Sunday 27 July 2014
England v India, 3rd Investec Test, Ageas Bowl, Southampton, 1st day
.jpg)
Southampton:Alastair Cook fell justagonisingly short of ending his dismal spell without a Test century as he led from the front against India at Southampton on Sunday.
The England Captain won the toss & then made 95 out of England's 247/2 at stumps on the first day of the 3rd Test.
Gary Ballance, who with his captain put on 158 for the 2nd wicket, then reached three figures to be 104 not out at stumps along with Bell who was 16 not out.
Ballance has now smashed 3 hundreds & 2 fifties in his first 6 Tests.
The Indian Attack missed Ishant who was unfit for the game.
The first-wicket partnership of 55 was ended when Mohammed Shami squared up the Australia-born & Jadeja held the catch in the slips.
2 cut shots off spinners Rohit Sharma, playing in place of Stuart Binny, and Jadeja helped Cook to 48 not out at lunch.
He completed a 98-ball fifty as the crowd signalled its support with a standing ovation.
At tea, England were 186/1, with Cook 82 not out and Ballance 72 not out.
Alastair Cook's 5-hour innings ended when he got a bottom edge, while swiping at a long hop from left-arm spinner Jadeja, & was caught down the legside by wicketkeeper MS Dhoni.
Umpire Marais Erasmus took his time before giving him out, but replays confirmed that he was correct.
As he walked back, Cook received another standing ovation, having faced 231 balls including 9 boundaries en route to his gritty 95.
England now were 213/2, hey were fortunate when Bell survived an LBW appeal from Pankaj Singh after the bowler's excellent outswinging delivery wrapped him on the pads.
However, Singh deserved better than his figures of 0/62 in 20 overs but his was just one of several economical contributions as Indian bowlers kept England's run-rate below 3 per over .
