Friday, November 16, 2012

India-England first Test; Sehwag, Pujara take India to 323


Ahmedabad: Choosing to bat first after winning the toss at the dry track here, Team India was comfortably placed at 323/4 at the end of day’s play.

Virender Sehwag top scored with 117 while Cheteshwar Pujara remained not out with his innings of 98.

With Virender Sehwag being at his blistering best- as he always is when he plays in India, the hosts got off to a good start. His run-a-ball innings of 117 (15X4,1X6) included elegant cover drives and a fine display of delicacy in hisbatting.

His century comes after two years. Incidentally, the last time he scored a century (173)was at the same venue against New Zealand.

Virender Sehwag’s wagon wheel of his innings of 117 against England at Ahmedabad Picture courtesy: © ESPNcricinfo ltd


Along with Delhi opener Gautam Gambhir, they managed to score 120 runs without losing a wicket at lunch.  

Their 134-run partnership for the first wicket was broken by Graeme Swann as ripped off Gambhir’s timber as it slid inside as he looked to play it on the off side. He played a cautious innings of 45 from 111 deliveries.

Swann was the highlight from England’s side with his figures of 4/85 in 32 overs. But the visitors were sloppy on the field with misfields and dropped catches.  

Meanwhile, Sehwag continued his blitzkrieg from the other end with a plundering six off Tim Bresnan’s bowling as the ball sailed over long-on.

Pujara played sensibly as he kept rotating the strike with Sehwag to continue the momentum. The latter brought up his hundred with a boundary of Swann’s bowling.

Their 90-run second wicket partnership came to an end with Najafgarh batsman completely misjudging the Swann’s turn and got bowled while trying to sweep.

Sachin Tendulkar added 13 runs to the total- he succumbed to the bowling of Swann.
Virat Kohli also showed some aggressive intent by scoring three boundaries in his innings of 19 before getting bowled to Swann’s bowling.

As Swann broke open the top order, Pujara kept the scoreboard ticking who bought up his second Test fifty.

His innings exemplified resilience and impressive stroke-play. He ended the day with a boundary off the last ball taking his score to 98*.  He was accompanied by Yuvraj Singh (24*) on the other end.

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