India Vs England - 2nd Day @ Lunch - India in control after Tendulkar departs
Lunch India 429 for 6 (Dhoni 33*, Kumble 5*) v England
Having both been dropped by England wicket-keeper Matt Prior, Indian batsmen Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman went on to register half-centuries before being dismissed on the second day of the third and final Test at The Brit Oval as India went to lunch on 429 for 6.
In a match that England must win to avoid a series defeat, the reprieves given to two of India’s premier batsmen cost 82 runs.
India resumed on 316 for four and Tendulkar, moved to his fifty with a single from the sixth delivery of the morning before the fifty partnership came up three overs later. Laxman was then given a life when on 41; again it was Sidebottom who was the unlucky bowler with Prior spilling a catch in front of Andrew Strauss at first slip.
He moved to his fifty soon after although when he offered Prior a second chance, this time off of Chris Tremlett, the catch was taken and he departed for 51. Tendulkar fell shortly before lunch for 82 when he edged James Anderson to Strauss, who this time was not bothered by Prior and safely took the chance.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni announced his arrival at the crease with a series of booming drives to the boundary and was unbeaten on 33 at the break with Anil Kumble on five.
Yesterday, Dinesh Karthik (91) and Rahul Dravid (55) also hit classy half-centuries before three wickets in the afternoon brought England back into play.
Both side named unchanged elevens, the first time in Test cricket that all three matches in a three Test series had seen no change of personnel on either side.
