Monday, July 25, 2011

Cricket: England crush India by 196 runs

England bowler James Anderson celebrates after removing the key wicket of India's Suresh Raina
England bowler James Anderson celebrates after removing the key wicket of India's Suresh Raina
  • England beat India by 196 runs in the first test at Lords
  • India lost nine wickets on the final day
  • Jimmy Anderson was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with 5-65
  • Second test in the four match series starts Friday

England took nine second-innings wickets on the final day's play against India at Lords' Monday to take a one nil lead in the four test series.

Stuart Broad took the final wicket, bowler Ishant Sharma trapped Leg Before Wicket, to end a remarkable test match that saw the fortunes of both teams veer dramatically over the course of the match.

The fifth day started in brilliant sunshine in north west London as India -- currently ranked the best team in test cricket, with England following closely behind -- attempted to save the match

England had set India a tough target of 458 to win, and reached 80-1 at stumps on the fourth day, giving them hope of at least a draw.

But wickets soon fell in the morning session with seam bowler James Anderson removing Rahul Dravid, who scored a century in the first innings, before accounting for the key wicket of Sachin Tendulkar.

India's greatest ever player was looking to secure a historic hundredth hundred in international cricket but fell for 12 to Anderson who finished with figures of 5-65.

VVS Laxman and Suresh Raina both offered resistance with battling half centuries but when Raina finally succumbed, also to Anderson, the match was all but over. Up stepped Broad to remove Sharma and spark wild celebrations in the crowd.

"It was an outstanding test match and an outstanding performance," England captain Andrew Strauss told reporters after the match, the 2000th test match in history.

"The way the bowlers stuck at their task today was great,"

The players won't have long to recover. The second test starts Friday with England needing to win by two clear matches to replace India as the best test side in world cricket.

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