India were left with the arduous task of batting out the entire fifth day to save the first cricket Test after England recovered from a top-order collapse to set a daunting target of 458 at the Lords in London on Sunday.The Indians lost opener Abhinav Mukund early as they reached 80 for one at stumps on the penultimate day which saw wicketkeeper-batsman Matt Prior hit a heroic unbeaten 103 to pull England out of trouble. At close of play, Rahul Dravid was batting at 34 and VVS Laxman at 32.The visitors were forced to change the batting order after opener Gautam Gambhir was rushed to a hospital for an x-ray after being hit on the left arm by a sweep from Prior while fielding at forward short leg just before tea.Sachin Tendulkar, who missed most of England's second innings due to viral infection, took the field only in the final session, and will only be able to bat at the number seven position.Dramatically, England were reduced to a precarious 62 for five with Ishant Sharma wrecking havoc before Prior and Stuart Broad put on 162 runs for the seventh wicket to restore the hosts' command over the match. On the final day today, India will have to bat a minimum of 90 overs on a track which has all along helped the seamers.
News On AIR | July 25, 2011 8:51 AM
India struggle to save first test against England at Lords