India leveled the series with a terrific batting display that helped them pile on a huge total. With so many runs in the bank, they could get away with an ordinary fielding display, where four relatively simple catches were dropped. The fielding was a mixed bag, with some good saves and some sloppy work in the outfield. Quite clearly, if India’s batting does not click, then they will be in trouble.
The batting clicked big-time, with Tendulkar and Ganguly giving the team a rousing start.
The little champion was positive from the word ‘go,’ and though he and Ganguly did have the odd bit of misunderstanding in running between the wickets, they settled down to running only the safe runs and hitting boundaries off good deliveries. Both went down the pitch to the new-ball bowlers and hit them over the top, though most of the early boundaries came off pretty cricketing shots.
The momentum had to be carried on, and Yuvraj, coming in to bat after a duck in the previous game, batted with freedom to keep the run-rate up.
The best innings though was played by the skipper Rahul Dravid, who played some extraordinary shots in the calm, cool and composed manner that only he among modern-day players is capable of. He was unlucky not to get most of the strike in the final overs, else he could well have got to a richly deserved ton, and one of his best too.
The danger in defending a massive total is that the fielding side tends to get a touch complacent and thinks that the opposition has no chance. A good start can make a dent in that confident feeling. Prior and Cook belted the new ball around, which is exactly what the England dressing room would have wanted. Prior took one chance too many and perished, and when Cook fished outside the off-stump, only to be caught by Dhoni, Munaf Patel was on a hat trick.
Munaf and R.P. Singh will certainly have to work hard on their fielding if they want to establish themselves in the one-day squad, for they seem to be in a world of their own in the deep after bowling their overs.
Powar too has to convince that he wants that place badly. Robin Singh, the fielding coach, has a lot on his plate with this Indian side. He won’t have a problem with young Chawla, as he is keen and a willing worker.
What a magnificent spell he bowled to get through the defenses of Pietersen and the England captain Paul Collingwood! He will get hit in this format of the game, especially on the smaller English grounds, but he should not despair and try to change his style of bowling. He is a bright prospect and India should use him judiciously to make sure that his confidence isn’t affected.
He must also be encouraged to develop his batting, which can come in handy at the number seven or eight position. It was at this position that Dimitri Mascarenhas came in and made up for his poor bowling effort with an incredibly strong-armed display of big hitting, which nearly took the game away from India.
Even granting for the smallness of the ground, some of his sixes were huge and would have carried on any ground in the world. Once he fell, India could breathe easy, but that fight by England will ensure that the series will be a closely fought one.
