JOIN USIndia snatch dramatic tie
On another rain-marred Sunday, however, they at least didn’t lose when the hosts appeared to be cantering towards another win. A tie, though, wasn’t any consolation for the visitors as they will return home having lost everything on this torturous tour.
In a game that swung like the proverbial pendulum, with the stop-start rain playing no less significant a role, England, chasing India’s 280 for five, were 270 for eight in 48.5 overs when the rains intervened for the third time in the space of half an hour, putting an end to the evening’s proceedings. If Ravi Bopara (96, 111b, 6x4) hadn’t been out off the fifth ball of what eventually turned out to be the final over of the match, England would have won the match on Duckworth-Lewis calculations, but his dismissal changed the target, helping India get away with a tie.
A rain interruption with England at 233 for five, two less than the par score of 235, appeared to give India an early win but they had return to immediately as the rain stopped before the covers could come on. A over later, England moved to 242 for five, two more than the par score, and this time it was England players’ turn to leave the ground happier as it began to rain heavily. Much to India’s relief, play began 15 minutes later. Perhaps, the result was in the fitness of things because neither team deserved to lose this entertainer.
Earlier, Mahendra Singh Dhoni struck a belligerent 78 not out (71b, 6x4, 3x6) and shared an innings-reviving record stand of 169 with an equally effective Suresh Raina (84, 75b, 7x4, 2x6) as India raised a competitive total after being asked to bat first again.
India were provided with a solid platform – 65 off 81 balls --- by Parthiv Patel and Ajinkya Rahane. The opening duo, especially Rahane, looked unconvincing all through its stay but collected runs nevertheless after managing just nine in the first five overs. Edges and miscued strokes marked the association that came to an end with Rahane’s dismissal by Stuart Broad. The paceman, who walked off the field clutching an injured bicep midway through the final over, then got rid of an attacking Parthiv whose attempted pull ballooned at mid-on for Bopara to complete a simple catch.
Pegged back by two quick blows, India were forced into consolidation and Rahul Dravid and Virat Kohli seemed to be doing a fine job it when Graeme Swann struck twice in his opening over to leave the men in blue struggling at 110 for four.
Before the captain and vice-captain pair took the English attack apart with some astonishing hitting, the Indian innings understandably moved at a snail’s pace. They went thorugh 11 overs from the 21st over without a boundary and at one stage, Dhoni and Raina played out 13 dot balls between them. Little would England have realised then that it was only a lull before the storm. While there is no doubt that both Dhoni and Raina are two of the cleanest hitters of the cricket ball, what can’t be undermined is their running between the wickets. As much as a flurry of boundaries towards the end hurt the hosts, the singles and twos proved equally crucial in their alliance. Dhoni and Raina collected 56 runs in singles and 22 in twos.