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Mon, 17 December 2012
Draw in Nagpur gives England historic series win

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15:31   Draw in Nagpur gives England historic series win
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MATCH DRAWN!!!!

ENGLAND WIN SERIES 2-1

England 2nd inns: 352-4 (154 ovs)


This was England's first Test series win in India after a long wait of 27 years with their previous victory coming way back in 1984-85. It was a remarkable turnaround by the team as they bounced back after a crushing defeat in the first Test in Ahmedabad.

India's bowling was poor and their spinners were outdone by the English counterparts.

All the four Indian spinners looked to bowl defensively and never really tried to take wickets in the final Test in Nagpur. Piyush Chawla took four wickets in the first innings but was pedestal in the second, bowling 26 lacklustre overs. Ravindra Jadeja fared no better, taking one for 59 in 33 overs to follow up on the two wickets he had taken earlier. R Ashwin (2-99) and Pragyan Ojha (1-70) also disappointed.

Captain Dhoni also looked unsure in the time of crisis and failed to rally his team together. It's time to analyse whether he should continue as the captain.
15:28   Nagpur Test ends in draw, England win series 2-1
- Scorecard

MATCH DRAWN!!!!

ENGLAND WIN SERIES 2-1

England 2nd inns: 352-4 (154 ovs)


So the torture finally ends as the two captains agree for a draw. England finish 352 for four in 154 overs with Ian Bell on 116 (306 balls) and Joe Root on 20 (56 balls).

Just one wicket fell in the final day as England scored 191 runs in 75 overs before play was called off an hour before the scheduled close of play with just the mandatory 15 overs left to be bowled.

England were once again the better team in the contest as India survived somehow and were aided by a flat slow wicket that gave no help at all for any of the bowlers.

The only positive for India was the steady partnership between Mahendra Singh Dhoni (99) and Virat Kohli (103) that rescued them after the top order had failed.


15:08   Bell hits ton, England set for series win
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England 2nd inns: 336-4 (151 ovs)


Debutant Root also seems to be enjoying his stint out in the middle. He had first smashes Ashwin for a six over midwicket in the 137th over and a few overs later he reverse swept the off-spinner for a boundary through the thirdman region.

Bell turned Ashwin round the corner on the leg side to get three runs and complete his first Test century in India, from 293 balls.

14:41  
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England 2nd inns: 315-4 (143 ovs)


Jadeja starts proceedings after the tea break and he bowls a maiden to Bell. Root gets the first runs of the session with a single off Ashwin in the next over.

In the next over, Root steers Jadeja past the point fielder for two runs.

Nothing happening in the middle and both teams waiting for the mandatory overs before they can close the match.
14:18   Batsmen take England closer to series win
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England 2nd inns: 310-4 (139 ovs)


England's batsmen continued to enjoy in the post lunch session helping themselves to 70 runs in 29 overs.

Bell and Trott were instrumental in guiding their team to safety and out of India's reach. England have guaranteed a draw in this match which will give them their first series win in India in 27 years.

Bell got back to form with a sparkling knock of 87 from 256 balls as he blossomed after a cautious start, while Joe Root made seven before tea.

England are 310 for four in 139 overs with a lead of 314 runs and just 30 overs left in the day. If the two teams agree the match could be over in an hour after the tea break.
14:01   Ashwin strikes, Trott out for 143
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England 2nd inns: 304-4 (135 ovs)


Ashwin finally breaks England's resistance with the wicket of Trott, who is caught at leg slip by Kohli after a fine innings of 143 from 310 balls, hitting 18 boundaries in total.

Trott was involved in a huge partnership of 208 runs from 78.2 overs for the fourth wicket with Bell as they finished off India's hopes of an unlikely victory.

Finally a wicket for India, but too late in the day as the result is beyond doubt now. Both the teams going through the motions now. Another 90 minutes left in the match before the two captains will agree for a draw one is sure!
13:52   Trott, Bell finish off Indian hopes
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England 2nd inns: 300-3 (134 ovs)


Trott flicks a full delivery from Ojha through midwicket for a four as England continue to prosper and possibility of a result is long gone over by now.

The Indian fielders also seem to be in sleep mode as Sehwag drops an edge at slips. Bell, who was batting on 75, tried to cut a short ball from Chawla and got an edge which was spilled by Sehwag in the 129th over.

Jadeja replaced Ojha but Trott continued to have fun as he flicked the left-arm spinner for a four through midwicket.

Bell chipped down the wicket to Jadeja and calmly lifted over the sight screen for a six to take his score to 82 and also raised the 200-run partnership from 459 balls for the fourth wicket. It seems as if Bell also wants to get his century before the tea break.

In Jadeja's next over Bell again comes down the track and lofts him over mid-on for a four to take England past 300.
13:25   Trott, Bell continue to prosper on Day 5
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England 2nd inns: 278-3 (126 ovs)


Trott continues to have fun at Chawla's expense as he steers a full delivery behind point for a four. He flicks Ojha through midwicket for three runs as England reached 278 for three in 126 overs.

It's been more than an hour after lunch and chances of England trying to push seem to be remote at the moment. tThe match is teethering towards a dull draw and both Trott and Bell getting some useful match practice out in the middle.

12:51   Trott, Bell punish Indian bowlers
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England 2nd inns: 265-3 (120 ovs)


Chawla has been quite disappointing in the second innings. He has struggled to find his bearings and has struggled to find the right line and length. He drops one short which Bell smashes through point and the leggie tries to compensate but overpitches and Bell eases the half-volley through the covers for back to back fours.

England have progressed to 265 for three in 120 overs to stretched their lead to 270 runs.

A minimum of 49 overs left in the day and definitely India cannot win from this position. The innings throughout the rate the match has been around the 2 runs per over and if England do declare that is if they do India will need to score at more than 5 runs per over.
12:44  
A look at the some of the reader messages we have received today on the message board:

Shashank says: "Lot of discussions at Media but I am sure if Sachin retires ealry ,Indian Cricket Team which is still very Good team, can collapse consistently below 150 during abroad matches as was in early days before tenure of Gacaskar, Kapildev , Sachin and Dravid . Other get support by only their presence.

Sanjoy Choudhuri is being naughty: "Tendulkar is our national heritage - the property and pride of the Government of India.So,like all Government employees we should allow him to serve us till the age of 60."

Saaani Mrichie is unhappy with the umpires: "Trottt and england must be grateful to dhramasena and tucker for saving this match!it remains to be sseel how much was the amount involved! earlier aleem darand tony hill did the same at Mumbai test! it is time to Ban Test Cricket and to ban or punish umpires making mistakes, for favours or otherwise, what a shame! when umpires play for a ceratin side, what poor players or cpatain can do! what a shame!"

Santhanam wants Virat Kohli to take over as the Indian captain: "Virat Kohli' the New Indian Captain after this Series. Mahendra Singh Dhoni's Time Over."

Nice one B M! "Even Ashwin's wife is in Nagpur. Does that mean that Ashwin is going to announce his retirement?"

12:30   Trott, Bell in control as England cross 250
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England 2nd inns: 253-3 (115 ovs)


England are in mood to make a match out this as they come out to bat after lunch. Sensible approach by England to continue batting and rule out India's chances completely, if they had any by now.

It will also be interesting to see if they put in India for a session or half and see if they can withstand the pressure.

Trott starts off the post lunch in cracking fashion as he drives a full ball from Chawla through midwicket for a four and then clips the next ball behind square on the leg side for three runs.

Trott takes a single off Ojha on the leg side to take England past the 250-run mark, in the 114th over.
11:54   Match set for draw, focus on Tendulkar
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England 2nd inns: 240-3 (110 ovs)


England take the honours in the morning session as their total reaches 240 for three in 110 overs at the lunch break to stretch their overall lead to 244 runs.

Trott is batting on a fine innings of 106 from 248 balls, while Bell has eased himself to 61 from 160 balls. Their partnership is now 146 runs from 329 balls for the fourth wicket to take their team to safety.

Nothing worth writing about the Indian bowlers in the morning session as none of them showed life or produced anything special to inspire some hope.

The first session saw 31 overs being bowled in which 79 runs were scored.

Meanwhile, the buzz around Tendulkar's retirement continues to do the rounds in Nagpur and on the social media websites. Nothing clear yet!
11:39  
Lawrence Booth believes India have given up. "India's over-rate tells its own story: 18 overs before drinks while there was still faint hope, 13 overs after drinks when it vanished...," he writes on Twitter.

Paul Newman writes: "Lunch and England, 244 ahead, are almost there. They will bat on for a while yet but surely now they are safe and will win this series 2-1."

George Dobell: "A wonderfully, beautifully dull session from an England perspective."
11:32   Tendulkar off the field with injury
Television replays show Sachin Tendulkar feeling his shoulder/uuper chest area after a dive in the field. He subsequently went off the field for possibly some treatment.

Former England pacer Derek Pringle keeps adding to the drama. "Sachin still off field - is he poorly or preparing retirement statement?"

Commentator Harsha Bhogle is also dying to Sachin Tendulkar bat. "but i so want tendulkar to bat today...just to see him walk out once more...feeling that way this morning."

Chawla has a huge appeal for LBW turned down by umpire Rod Tucker. That delivery went straight, hit Trott on the back leg but the umpire was not interested. That was might close!

So Parvinder Awana gets his first taste of Test cricket as he comes in the field as the substitute for Ravindra Jadeja, who goes into the pavilion to get some treatment.

11:09   Trott hits century, England in control
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England 2nd inns: 233-3 (105 ovs)


Trott clips a full delivery from Ojha through midwicket for a four to move to 94 while Bell punches Ashwin down the ground for a boundary to bring up his half-century from 130 balls, his fourth Test fifty against and only his second in India. It also ends a run of poor scores in the series for Bell, who missed the second Test after he went back to UK for the birth of his child.

Meanwhile, Tendulkar went off the field during the drinks break and Ashok Dinda is substituting for him.

Trott completes his hundred in some style, with two boundaries in the Chawla over. The leg-spinner bowls a juicy half volley which Trott eases through the covers before flicking another full delivery two balls later through midwicket for a four to bring up his century.


10:52   England inch closer towards draw on Day 5
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England 2nd inns: 210-3 (100 ovs)


The match continues to be a dreary affair on the final day. England are content to milk the bowling while India are hoping for a miracle to happen which at the moment looks impossible.

After 100 overs, England are sitting pretty on 201 for three, for an overall lead of 214 runs.

Trott is batting on 90 from 219 balls, while Bell is on 47 from 129 balls.

10:22   Trott, Bell take England past 200
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England 2nd inns: 200-3 (94 ovs)


Ojha takes over from Ishant at the Pavilion End and he starts with a maiden over to Bell. Jadeja continues to bowl as Dhoni decides to hold back R Ashwin, who some months was India's top spinner but has been used rarely in this Test match.

Trott punches a full delivery down the ground as Ashwin fails to stop it at mid-on to give away a boundary to continue England's progress on the final day.

Bell then paddle sweeps Ojha for a boundary fine on the leg side as runs starting to come at a fair rate.

England are 189 for three in 89 overs as Trott and Bell have put on 28 runs in first 10 overs on the final day.

Ashwin finally comes into the attack, to bowl the 92nd over. He starts from round the stumps but causes Bell no problems, who drives a full delivery past mid-off for a boundary to bring up the 100-run stand on 194 for three in 92 overs.

In the next over, Trott flicks Ojha through midwicket to get three runs to take the total to 197 for three and stretch the lead to over the 200-run mark. Bell drives Ashwin through covers for a double and take the total past 200 now.

Trott inching closer to his century as his score reaches 83 from 205 balls, while Bell is on 44.
09:57   Trott, Bell continue to frustrate India
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England 2nd inns: 181-3 (85 ovs)


Jadeja to bowl the first over of the day. Trott flicks the third ball into the leg side for one for the first run of the day as just a single comes in the first over of the day.

England are 162-3 after 80 overs and the second new ball is available as Ishant Sharma comes on to bowl. He bowls one delivery with the old, which is a yorker to Trott, who keeps it out and India decide to take the new ball after that. Trott hits the fourth ball of that over through midwicket and gets three runs.

In Ishant's next over, Bell plays a perfectly timed cover drive for the boundary as the fielders can only stand back and admire. That is the first boundary of the over and already England are looking favourites to bat out the day.

In the next over, Trott slaps Jadeja back past the bowler for a boundary down the ground.

Sharma then induces an edge from Bell which falls short of Kohli at slips while Bell pulls the next ball through the leg side for another boundary.

England have scored 20 runs in the first six overs of the day.
09:21   Live Cricket! Last day for Tendulkar in Test cricket?
Nagpur has been buzzing for the last couple of days with speculations regarding the retirement of India's veteran batsman Sachin Tendulkar.

He has been through a rough time recently with the bat and has been subject to constant criticisms off late leaving many wondering whether he will hang up his boots after this Test match.

The presence of his wife Anjali in Nagpur, who rarely accompanies him on cricket tours, has only helped add to the speculations. Check out Anjali Tendulkar watching the action on Day 4.

But as of now there have been no indications either from Tendulkar or the BCCI on his retirement plans. So for now, let us focus on the match and see if India can force an unlikely victory in Nagpur.
09:17   India hoping for unlikely victory on Day 5
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England 2nd inns: 161-3 (79 ovs)


India face a near impossible task as they try to push for a series levelling victory on the final day of the fourth and final Test in Nagpur, on Monday.

England are comfortably placed at 161 for three in their second innings for an overall lead of 165. The visitors lead 2-1 and will look to bat for as long as possible to take the match towards a draw which will give them their first series win in India in 27 years.

On the other hand, India will be looking to claim a few early wickets and try to push for a victory. But their task won't be easy on a slow low pitch offering nothing for the bowlers, either pacers or spinners.

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