Close India 130 for 3 (Sehwag 84) trail England 487 (Hussain 155, Crawley 64, Flintoff 59, White 53) by 357 runs
scorecard

Two wickets late in the evening spoilt an excellent session of play for India, and gave Nasser Hussain a whiff of an opening at close of play on the second day. Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid had given India a wonderful platform with a 126-run second-wicket partnership as India replied to England's 487. Stroking the ball with a fluency and grace that was once again a reminder of his precocity, Sehwag made light of the early wicket of specialist opener Wasim Jaffer – bowled off the pad by Matthew Hoggard for 1.

India looked set to end the second day's play no more than a wicket down, when Sehwag came down the pitch to Ashley Giles, and the inside edge ricocheted off his pad onto his stumps (128 for 2). Sehwag trudged back disconsolately for 84, and, in a strangely defensive move, Ashish Nehra came out as nightwatchman. The move didn't click – Andy Flintoff trapped Nehra in front off the last over of the day, and India ended the day at a slightly wobbly 130 for 3.

There was no hint of a wobble though, when Sehwag and Dravid were at the crease. Both batsmen were in the comfort zone from the start, with nothing going past the bat. Hoggard and Flintoff shared the new ball, but both were less than impressive and either pitched it too short or strayed down leg side.

Hussain rung in a bowling change, but surprisingly, it was Ashley Giles, and not Simon Jones, who got the ball. It was an inexplicable move, as was Giles's decision to bowl the over-the-wicket, outside-the-leg line straightaway. Dravid and Sehwag latched on – Sehwag brought up India's fifty in the 13th over with an on-driven four, and celebrated with a hoick over midwicket for six.

It prompted Hussain to introduce Jones into the attack. Jones had already biffed his way to an impressive 44 with the bat, and now began his Test bowling career with gusto, clocking speeds of over 140 kmph regularly. But on a placid pitch, any error in direction was punished, and Sehwag brought up his fifty in a Jones over which cost him 12 runs.

At the other end, Dravid was Mr. Solidity. His first 24 runs came in just 33 balls, but his next nine took him 81. That hardly bothered him though, and India were cruising along, when Giles struck.

Earlier, India's deficient bowling artillery was cruelly exposed by England's lower-order, as the last three wickets added 130 runs to stretch their innings to 487. India started the day well, and again it was first-day hero Zaheer Khan who impressed. He trapped Alec Stewart lbw in his second over with a replica of the delivery that dismissed Michael Vaughan on the first day. Stewart failed to add to his overnight 19 (263 for 5).

Flintoff then waded into the Indian attack, scoring 59 from a mere 62 balls with 10 fours and a six. With Hussain, he added 93 for the sixth wicket in less than 21 overs, and the Indian bowling was running ragged. Flintoff had his share of playing-and-missing, but when he hit them, they went a long way. He belted Nehra and Zaheer for consecutive boundaries, and when Kumble came into the attack, Flintoff creamed him through cover for a couple of fours, and then lofted him over long-on for six to bring up his half-century. Kumble had dismissed Flintoff three times off the last four balls he had bowled to him in the series in India, but Flintoff clearly had his number here.

India were quickly running out of options when Agarkar struck the double-blow. First, Flintoff chased a wide ball and nicked it to Ajay Ratra (356 for 6). That was the last delivery of his 17th over. With his very next ball, he had Hussain poking outside off and giving Ratra his second catch (357 for 7). Hussain finished up with 155.

The Indians might have been forgiven for believing that the end of the innings was near. Jones and Craig White had other ideas though. Jones came in to bat after Ashish Nehra bowled Ashley Giles for 19 (390 for 8), and soon unveiled his simple, uncomplicated batting technique – anything pitched up was belted down the ground, anything short was slammed square of the wicket on either side.

The Indian bowling attack obliged Jones with plenty of hit-me balls too. His 44 came off just 43 balls, before Kumble had him caught by Dravid at slip (452 for 9). White continued to resist, and was last man out, stumped off Kumble for 53, as England's innings finally wound to its close at tea.

India negotiated most of the last session well, but the late wickets gave England a slight edge. Sachin Tendulkar will come out to resume India's innings tomorrow with Dravid. India need at least one of them to go on and get a big score.

S Rajesh is sub editor of Wisden.com in India.

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