England take firm grip on first Test

Nagpur, March 4 Debutant Alastair Cook scored a fine unbeaten century on the fourth day to guide an injury-stricken England to a huge 367-run lead that gave them a firm grip on the first Test against India here Saturday.

After taking a crucial first-innings lead of 70, England made 297 for three wickets in 87 overs with Cook batting on 104 (243 balls, 12x4s) and first-innings' centurion Paul Collingwood, who was dropped at four, on 36 (56 balls, 4x4s, 1x6).

Earlier, Kevin Pieterson had scored 87 (110 balls, 14x4s, 1x6).

Earlier, India were all out for 323 in their first innings, falling 70 runs short of England's first innings total of 393.

England are likely to bat at least for an hour Sunday morning before setting a target at the Vidarbha Cricket Association ground. On a pitch that is likely to help the England bowlers, especially spinners, it will be tough for India either to go for the target or play for a draw.

Credit goes to England that they put up a brave face despite being hit by injuries/personal reasons and missing the services of their captain Michael Vaughan, vice-captain Michael Trescothick, Simon Jones and Marcus Trescothick.

Cook's performance is all the more praiseworthy as he was brought into the squad - along with Ian Backwell, James Anderson and Owais Shah - after Trescothick returned home soon after the team landed in India.

Cook was, however, distinctly lucky on his way to the century as he was dropped twice - on 70 and 91 - on a day when Indian fielding and catching left a lot to be desired.

After scoring 60 in the first innings, 21-year-old left-handed Cook was involved in three crucial partnerships. He put on 95 with his fellow opener Andrew Strauss.

Cook raised a quick 124 with Kevin Pietersen for the third wicket and then an unbroken 76 for the fourth wicket with Collingwood.

Scoreboard

Day 4, First Test, India vs. England, Vidarbha C.A. Ground, Nagpur, March 4

England (1st innings): 393

India (1st innings, overnight 322/9):

Wasim Jaffer c Flintoff b Hoggard 81
Virender Sehwag c Pietersen b Hoggard 2
Rahul Dravid lbw b Hoggard 40
Sachin Tendulkar lbw b Panesar 16
V.V.S. Laxman lbw b Hoggard 0
Mohammed Kaif b Panesar 91
Mahendra Singh Dhoni c Jones b Flintoff 5
Irfan Pathan c Flintoff b Hoggard 2
Anil Kumble c Cook b Harmison 58
Harbhajan Singh not out 0
S Sreesanth lbw b Hoggard 1 6 0 0
Extras: (byes 17, leg byes 3, wides 5, no balls 2) 27
Total: (all out in 136.5 overs) 323

Fall of wickets: 1-11 (Sehwag, 2.5 overs), 2-140 (Dravid, 50.2), 3-149 (Jaffer, 52.5), 4-149 (Laxman, 52.6), 5-176 (Tendulkar, 68.1), 6-183 (Dhoni, 71.3), 7-190 (Pathan, 76.5), 8-318 (Kumble, 134.3), 9-322 (Kaif, 135.4)

Bowling:

Matthew Hoggard 30.5 13 57 6
Steve Harmison 27 5 75 1 (1nb)
Andrew Flintoff 29 10 68 1 (1nb, 1w)
Monty Panesar 42 19 73 2
Ian Blackwell 7 0 28 0
Ian Bell 1 0 2 0

England (2nd innings):

Andrew Strauss c Dhoni b Pathan 46
Alastair Cook batting 104
Ian Bell c Dhoni b Pathan 1
Kevin Pietersen c Dravid b Kumble 87
Paul Collingwood batting 36
Extras: (b 12, lb 7, w 2, nb 2) 23
Total: (for three wickets in 87 overs) 297

Fall of wickets: 1-95 (Strauss, 32.6 overs), 2-97 (Bell, 34.1), 3-221 (Pietersen, 66.2)

Bowling:

Irfan Pathan 14 2 48 2 (2w)
Sreesanth 10 2 36 0
Anil Kumble 32 8 101 1 (1nb)
Harbhajan Singh 30 6 79 0
Virender Sehwag 1 0 14 0 (1nb)

Toss: England
Test debut: Sreesanth (India); Ian Blackwell, Alastair Cook, Monty Panesar (England)
Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and Ian Howell (South Africa)
Third umpire: I. Sivaram (India)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)