England consolidate lead against India

Cricket Mumbai, (IANS) Pacer James Anderson's four wickets helped England gain a crucial 121-run lead against India that went up to 152 by close of play on the third day of the third Test here Monday.

But Indian pacers S. Sreesanth and Munaf Patel, both playing their career's second match, took two quick wickets in England's second innings to leave them at 31 for two by close to gain some advantage.

At close Monday, Owais Shah (15) and Shaun Udal (2) were batting on a pitch that is still affording appreciable bounce.

Earlier, despite half-centuries from Mahendra Singh Dhoni (64, 118 balls, 10x4s) and captain Rahul Dravid (52, 155 balls, 6x4s), India were all out for 279 in their first innings, thanks to Anderson's four-wicket haul and Matthew Hoggard's two scalps.

When England started their second innings, Munaf had Andrew Strauss caught by Dhoni for four and Sreesanth had Ian Bell also caught behind for eight and the visitors were 21 for two.

Despite losing two quick wickets, England are in a much better position as it is they who will dictate terms on the fourth and fifth days. They can now put up a good total on the fourth day and perhaps declare the innings and put India under pressure.

It will not be easy for India, ahead 1-0 in the three-Test series, to bat in the fourth innings of the match, on the fourth and fifth days when the pitch might further change behaviour.

Although Sreesanth bowled an inspired spell towards the close, the Indian fielding again was below par - a few catches were dropped or they were half chances that were not converted.

England were also guilty of dropping Dravid when he was at 52 and India at 138 for four. However, after being dropped by substitute Matt Prior at wide third slip, the Indian captain, playing in his 100th Test, failed to take advantage of the 'life' and was brilliantly caught by wicketkeeper Geraint Jones on his left side off Anderson.

The day began with India resuming their innings at 89 for three and added 190 more before being all out. Anderson finished with figures of 19.1-8-40-4.

Yuvraj, unbeaten on 32 overnight, was the first to be out, caught by Jones off captain Andrew Flintoff. Yuvraj and Dravid added 66 for the fourth wicket that helped India put up a decent enough total. Dravid was also involved in another small stand with Dhoni, worth 48 for the fifth wicket.

SCOREBOARD

Day 3, Third Test, India vs. England, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, March 20

England (1st innings): 400

India (1st innings, overnight 89/3):

Wasim Jaffer c Jones b Hoggard 11
Virender Sehwag c Shah b Hoggard 6
Rahul Dravid c Jones b Anderson 52
Sachin Tendulkar c Jones b Anderson 1
Yuvraj Singh c Jones b Flintoff 37
Mahendra Singh Dhoni run out (Anderson) 64
Irfan Pathan c Hoggard b Udal 26
Anil Kumble lbw b Panesar 30
Harbhajan Singh c Jones b Anderson 2
S. Sreesanth not out 29
Munaf Patel b Anderson 7
Extras: (byes 4, leg byes 7, no balls 3) 14
Total: (all out in 104.1 overs) 279

Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Sehwag, 6.1 overs), 2-24 (Jaffer, 11.2), 3-28 (Tendulkar, 18.1), 4-94 (Yuvraj Singh, 38.6), 5-142 (Dravid, 54.1), 6-186 (Pathan, 76.4), 7-212 (Dhoni, 83.3), 8-217 (Harbhajan, 87.2), 9-272 (Kumble, 101.4)

Bowling:

Matthew Hoggard 22 6 54 2 (1nb)
Andrew Flintoff 21 4 68 1 (2nb)
James Anderson 19.1 8 40 4
Monty Panesar 26 7 53 1
Shaun Udal 16 2 53 1

England (2nd innings):

Andrew Strauss c Dhoni b Patel 4
Ian Bell c Dhoni b Sreesanth 8
Owais Shah batting 15
Shaun Udal batting 2
Extras: (w 1, nb 1) 2
Total: (for two wickets in 15 overs) 31

Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Strauss, 5.6 overs), 2-21 (Bell, 10.3)

Bowling:
Irfan Pathan 4 1 6 0 (1nb, 1w)
Munaf Patel 4 0 12 1
S. Sreesanth 4 1 10 1
Anil Kumble 2 0 3 0
Harbhajan Singh 1 1 0 0

Toss: India
Umpires: Darrel Hair and Simon Taufel (both Australia)
Third umpire: K. Hariharan (India)
Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka)