Sanjay Bangar glued India's innings together with a two-gear performance. He camped at one end with a strike-rate below 30 before tea, timid to the extent of putting away the five half-volleys and a full toss in that period for just six runs. His `chai' break charged his bat. He added another 36 off 50 balls at a strike rate of 72 before he was out. Importantly, his fifth-wicket stand of 77 off 113 balls with VVS Laxman steadied India after they were 165 for 4 at tea. Bangar's 36 with Laxman was his largest contribution in the five partnerships he shared.

Bangar's mission to cling on earned him only 22 off 77 balls before lunch, out of a score of 98 for 2. Cameroon Cuffy largely kept him quiet, with 36 of his 41 balls to Bangar going runless. Bangar continued crawling in first gear after lunch, making 19 off 74. Cuffy again bottled him up, with 19 dot balls out of the 22 he bowled to Bangar in that session, and more than 90% in a strangling line outside off.

Bangar exploded belatedly after tea like a wet Diwali cracker, scoring seven of his 13 boundaries in that session, of which four came off Jermaine Lawson. With this 201-ball effort, of which 168 were dot balls, `Barnacle' Bangar reaffirmed his sticky value to India.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd