The man who came out just when needed was Robin Uthappa who has just played one ODI before Oval match on this tour but he has shown the calm and cool attitude to take India home by 2 wickets to level the series by 3-3 with final match to be played on Saturday at Lords. India needed 10 runs in the last over which was bowled by Stuart Broad. After a quick couple of the first ball, Zaheer Khan was run out at the non-striker's end much to England’s delight. But Uthappa struck two consecutive boundaries to create history at the Kennington Oval, making the run chase on Wednesday the highest at the ground. Chasing a target of 317 runs most successful opening pair in the world gave India a start they were looking for by adding 150 runs in 22.2 overs for the first wicket before Saurav Ganguly got out on 53 runs. Sachin also not lasted longer after his dismissal and miss out another hundred on this tour, when he was out on 94 runs. However Yuvraj Singh (18 runs of 24 balls) and Gautam Gambhir (47 runs of 53 balls) tried to kept Indian team in the hunt but they have lost three quick wicket including Rahul Dravid who has scored 4 runs. Needing 85 runs in last 10 overs with 5 wickets in hand require calm and aggressive chase that what did by M.S. Dhoni (35 runs of 37 balls) and Robin Uthappa (47 of 33 balls). They have put 60 runs for the sixth wicket and somewhat get India on track when Dhoni was dismissed India needed another 25 runs in last two overs and due to some aggressive batting by Robin Uthappa Indian team manage to do that. Earlier England Captain Paul Collingwood won the toss and decided to bat first at the Oval ground. Both Indian opening Bowler gave India a great start by sending Aliastar Cook and Matt. Prior to the pavilion and reduce England score to 20/2 at the End of 4th over. A.Cook was caught brilliantly by M.S. Dhoni for duck on the bowling of Zaheer Khan in the very first over. Prior was trapped leg before wicket for six off the bowling of Ajit Agarkar. Prior who looked a little unhappy with the dismissal, had shuffled a long way across his stumps which brought his downfall. However the inform batsman Ian Bell was again in good knick and made 49 runs before getting out one short of his fifty. Both Paul Collingwood (1) and Kevin Pietersen (53), were run out owing to some bad calling on the part of the English batsmen. England were tattering at 83/4 but Owasis Shah made an outstanding 107 not out of 95 balls with 2 six and 11 fours help England to pile up 316/6. Dimitry Mascarenhas (36 runs of 15 balls) & Luke Wright (50 runs of 39 balls) also played some great inning at end to help England to give Indians much tougher target to stay alive in the series. England have scored 30 runs in the last over of their inning. Dimitry Mascarenhas hits five sixes in the last over bowled by Yuvraj Singh. Sachin Tendulkar (94 runs of 81 balls) was declared Man of the Match. Match Summary England – 316/6 in 50 Overs Owasis Shah – 107* Luke Wright – 50 Dimitry Mascarenhas – 36* Piyush Chawla – 10-1-44-1 Zaheer Khan – 10-0-43-1 India – 316/8 in 49.4 Overs Sachin Tendulkar – 94 Saurav Ganguly – 53 Robin Uthappa – 47* Dimitry Mascarenhas – 10-0-55-2 Stuart Broad – 9.4-1-46-2 |
