Nature's fury halts India's victory march

Parthiv, Virat sparkle in rain-hit tie

The visitors had left England reeling at 27 for two in 7.2 overs after posting a competitive 274 for six when medium to heavy showers literally poured water on their aspirations.

After a first inspection at 4.30 pm, the umpires scheduled a re-start at 4.50 pm with a revised target of 224 from 32 overs, which meant England needed to score a further 197 off 24.4 overs. But no sooner did the covers came off than the skies opened up again, postponing the start once again.

After another assessment of the conditions at 5.25 pm, England were set a target of 164 from 20 overs (a further 137 from 76 balls) with play scheduled to resume at 5.40 pm.

However, it was not to be India’s day. As soon as the announcement was made, the rain came out with telling effect, forcing the umpires to abandon the game. The two veterans in the squad, Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, would have been cursing their luck having been part of an abandoned match at the same venue in 2002. India then had England struggling at 53 for one in 12.3 overs after Tendulkar (105) and Dravid (82) had guided the team to 285 for four when rains put paid to their aspirations.

India’s misfortune on the day wasn’t just restricted to the rain playing spoilsport. The day began with Tendulkar being ruled out of the match. Dravid was then controversially adjudged caught-behind off Stuart Broad after the referral, though there was no conclusive evidence to prove the Bangalorean had nicked the ball. Later, Rohit Sharma, hit by a Broad bouncer on his hand off the first ball he faced, was left with a broken right-index finger before rain intervened to complete their misery.

India, put in by England, rode on Parthiv Patel (95, 107b, 12x4) and Virat Kohli (55, 73b, 4x4) to muster a challenging total. Ajinkya Rahane (40, 44b, 6x4) once again was in his elements as the right-hander, in the company of Parthiv, neutralised the absence of Tendulkar with an 82-run partnership for the opening wicket. Just one T20 international old, the youngster gave a good account of himself against a full-strength English attack during his delightful cameo.

India’s newest opening combination had a rather slow start after England inserted the visitors under damp, overcast conditions. On a seamer-friendly surface, the left-right duo bided its time before Parthiv, dropped on seven, set the pace for the innings with a four down the ground. The English bowlers’ effort to bounce the opening pair didn’t work with both Parthiv and Rahane pulling with some conviction.

Broad came in for special treatment as the bowler was pulled, drove and lifted over his head for 20 runs off his first two overs. The paceman, however, came back strongly with two wickets – Rahane and Broad -- in as many overs to peg India back. The two quick dismissals put a brake on India’s scoring as Virat Kohli took some time get his eye in.

Parthiv, though, was going uninhibited nudging in gaps and using the cross bat to good effect.

On the cusp of a maiden international ton, the 26-year-old only managed a nick behind the wickets as he attempted to slam James Anderson through the off. The disappointment was evident by his reaction but by then, he had added 107 with Kohli, who played left-arm spinner Patel on to his stumps soon after reaching his fifty.

Effectively a batsman light after Rohit’s exit, the onus was on Suresh Raina and Mahendra Singh Dhoni to shore up the total and they did the job admirably well, raising 60 runs between them off just 54 balls.