CHENNAI: England grabbed two crucial wickets in the morning to tilt the scales in their favour on an intriguing final day of the first test against India on Monday. The hosts reached 213 for three at lunch chasing a stiff victory target of 387 runs, needing another 174 runs from 66 overs in the final two sessions.
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England declared their second innings closed at 311 for nine shortly after tea on the fourth day after opener Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood scored 108 each.
Andrew Flintoff dismissed Rahul Dravid for four runs in an explosive opening spell on the final morning before fellow paceman James Anderson removed Gautam Gambhir for 66.
Sachin Tendulkar was on 27 and Vangipurappu Laxman was 20 not out at the interval, keeping Indian hopes alive after Virender Sehwag’s explosive 83 overnight provided the early momentum.
Flintoff had overnight batsman Dravid caught behind in the day’s third over, extending the former captain’s poor form after India resumed on 131 for one.
Left-hander Gambhir, 41 overnight, recorded his eighth test fifty and raised 42 runs with Tendulkar for the third wicket to keep India in the hunt for their second highest successful chase.
Anderson, replacing Flintoff, however had Gambhir caught by Collingwood at gully after he poked a delivery outside off-stump, giving England the edge.
Tendulkar batted fluently and the wristy Laxman got his eye in quickly to help the hosts raise 82 runs in the session.
England captain Kevin Pietersen did not bring on new ball bowler Steve Harmison, who conceded 33 runs in his only four-over spell on Sunday.
Scoreboard at lunch on the fifth and final day of the first test between England and India at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, India on Monday.
England first innings 316 all out (A. Strauss 123, A. Cook 52, M. Prior 53 not out)
India first innings 241 all out (M. Dhoni 53)
England second innings 311-9 declared (A. Strauss 108, P. Collingwood 108)
India second innings (overnight 131-1)
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