India Salvage Pride at Lord’s

Javed Akhtar, Arab News

LONDON, 6 September 2004 — Indian bowlers gave a super display to give their team a narrow 23-run victory over England in the third and final match of the NatWest Challenge at Lord’s here yesterday. The consolation win after England had won the first two games of the series came as a big morale booster for Saurav Ganguly and his men ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy beginning in England on Sept. 10. Batting first, India scored 204 in 49.3 overs thanks to skipper Saurav Ganguly’s match-winning 90 and his deputy Rahul Dravid’s patient 52. Despite a fighting 74 by captain Michael Vaughan, England were all out for 181 in 48.2 overs. Ganguly won the man of the match award while the man of the series title went to England fast bowler Steve Harmison. A biased capacity crowd consisting mainly of Indian supporters, booed the home team and cheered the Indians as they coasted to a deserving win. India decided to blood young wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik, left out batsman Rohan Gavaskar and seamers Lakshmipaty Balaji and Ajit Agarkar from the squad for the last match. In came left-arm medium pacer Ashish Nehra and leg-spinner Anil Kumble. England rested Andrew Flintoff and brought in Anthony McGrath. Ganguly opted to bat first after winning the toss. But when he came out to open the innings, his usual partner Virender Sehwag was not there. Instead V.V.S. Laxman walked out with him. The change in the batting order did not bring any change for India as both Laxman and Sehwag coming at No. 4, failed. Laxman was yorked by Steve Harmison for nine. And Sehwag offered a simple return catch to left-arm spinner Ashley Giles for one. In between it was Ganguly who tried to commit hara-kiri and poor Mohammed Kaif had to pay the price. Ganguly played Giles in the covers and just took off for a run. Kaif, having hit half centuries in the last two games, was promoted to No. 3. Kaif is usually a nimble-footed good runner between the wickets but he was taken by surprise by Ganguly as he stood rooted at the non-striker’s end but had to sacrifice his own wicket. Ganguly more than made up for this lapse with his own batting. Considered strong on the off-side, the England bowlers bowled to him on the leg and he displayed his mastery on the on-side by pulling and flicking for sixes and boundaries. Dravid played a supportive role as Ganguly went after the bowling, smacking three sixes and five fours in his 119-ball innings. He and Dravid put on 93 runs for the fourth wicket to bring India back into the game. Ganguly had made 90 when he pulled Harmison straight to Vaughan at mid-wicket. Dravid stayed put and got his own half century in 85 balls with three fours. Apart from Ganguly and Dravid, other Indian batsmen failed to reach double figures. Irfan Pathan was the third top scorer with 14 runs. The Indians lost their last seven wickets for 63 runs in 82 balls. Harmison was the most effective England bowler claiming four wickets for 22 runs in 10 overs to return his best career figures. Darren Gough finished with two for 41 but became the first England bowler to take 200 one-day wickets when he got rid of Harbhajan. With a poor total to defend, the Indian seam bowlers toiled hard. Irfan and Nehra bowled with venom and fire on a track offering them some assistance as England chased 205 at the rate of 4.1 runs per over. The almost packed stadium roared in unison as Nehra gave the Indians their first success inducing an edge from Marcus Trescothick for Laxman to take a regulation slip catch. Nehra struck again, Vikram Solanki pulling into the safe hands of Harbhajan in the deep. England were 22 for two in the fourth over. Encouraged by the early successes, the Indians worked harder as they fielded brilliantly. And when Irfan dealt two quick blows, India were well and truly back in the match. He trapped Andrew Strauss and McGrath leg before playing and missing the line to have England reeling at 29 for four. Brilliant work by Kaif at short leg gave India their fifth wicket. Paul Collingwood stepped out to Harbhajan but played straight to Kaif who threw down the wicket in a flash. Geraint Jones smashed a six and a four before he was brilliantly caught by a diving Sehwag at mid-wicket. England had lost their sixth wicket for 62 in the 20th over. Vaughan who had failed with the bat in the first two matches, came good when it mattered. He found an able ally in veteran Giles and the two batted resolutely to take the total past the 100-mark in the 29th over. Vaughan reached his 50 off 100 balls with the help of six fours. The required run rate mounted with Harbhajan, Kumble and Sehwag bowling a tight line and length. After 40 overs, England at 143 for six needed 6.2 runs an over for a win. It was Harbhajan who not only broke their stubborn partnership but also got rid of both Vaughan and Giles. He forced Giles to drive a ball of fuller length for a well held return catch. Giles made 39 in a partnership of 92 for the seventh wicket. In the same over, the 43rd of the innings, Vaughan stepped out and Karthik brought off a brilliant stumping to virtually end England’s hopes. Vaughan smashed eight boundaries in his 74 off 141 balls. Yuvraj also bowled tightly and was rewarded with a wicket when Wharf ballooned a top edge for Karthik to complete the formality. Fittingly, Nehra who had begun England’s destruction also completed it when he yorked Gough for 10. He ended with three for 26 while Harbhajan had three for 28 and Irfan two for 32.