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| England bowlers frustrated ![]() New opener Sehwag hit his second Test century Second Test, Trent Bridge, day one (stumps): India 210-4 v England Virender Sehwag hit his second Test century as India's batsmen frustrated England in bowler-friendly conditions on the opening day at Trent Bridge. An all-seam attack restricted the tourists to 210 runs in 66 overs before bad light brought an end to the day an hour early. But, despite extravagant swing, which saw regular playing and missing, just four wickets fell. It was an unusually patient innings from Sehwag, in just his second Test at the top of the order, lasting just over four-and-a-half hours.
Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman picked up the pace after his dismissal, adding 31 in six overs before surprisingly accepting the umpires' offer of light. The India captain was 29 not out after a faltering start, while Laxman found his stride immediately, getting off the mark with a classical cover drive, to reach an unbeaten 22. Vicious swing Earlier, Matthew Hoggard picked up the scalps of Wasim Jaffer and Rahul Dravid in an outstanding 10-over opening spell that yielded just 17 runs. And Sachin Tendulkar gained a bottom edge to an inexplicable pull off Dominic Cork from outside off-stump for 34. Tendulkar took 17 deliveries to get off the mark, and in doing so moved on from a tie for 10th place in the list of leading Test run-scorers with Sir Garfield Sobers.
Tendulkar and Sehwag were increasing in confidence when Cork struck the surprise blow, continuing Tendulkar's recent poor run of Test form. But Cork may not play any further part in the Test, having been sent to hospital for a precautionary X-ray on his right knee, hurt in attempting a run-out. Of the other bowlers both Steve Harmison, on debut, and Andrew Flintoff bowled 14 economic overs each without reward. Harmison began his Test career with four successive maidens, and showed glimpses of the raw pace for which he was selected, troubling Ganguly early. England opted for an all-seam attack for the first time at the Nottingham venue for the first time since 1981, spinner Ashley Giles being left in the pavilion. India made two changes, both enforced by injury, to the side which lost the first Test at Lord's by 170 runs. Spinner Anil Kumble failed a fitness test on his calf and was replaced by Harbhajan Singh, and 17-year-old wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel gained his first cap after a toe injury to Ajay Ratra. England: N Hussain (capt), MP Vaughan, RWT Key, MA Butcher, JP Crawley, AJ Stewart (wkt), A Flintoff, C White, SJ Harmison, MJ Hoggard, DG Cork. India: SC Ganguly (capt), W Jaffer, V Sehwag, A Nehra, RS Dravid, SR Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, P Patel (wkt), AB Agarkar, Z Khan, Harbhajan Singh. Umpires: RB Tiffin (Zim) & RE Koertzen (SA). Third Umpire: JW Lloyds. Match referee: CH Lloyd (WI). |
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