Cricket story by Brian Watters, Sun, 05 Mar 2006 18:16:00 GMT


NAGPUR, India - It was an exciting final hour of the first Test as India went after the target of 368 set by England. The visitors declared on their overnight lead of 367 and India began the day needing to bat 90 overs to save the game.

It began disastrously for them as Matthew Hoggard bowled Virender Sehwag for zero and England attacked as the wicket lifted them. But Rahul Dravid and Wasim Jaffer combined beautifully to thwart England's ambitions. Dravid made 71, while Jaffer notched up his maiden century in Tests. Dravid fell to Panesar and it was here that the Indians sprung a surprise by sending Irfan Pathan to kick the chase. Pathan began stylishly as Flintoff spread his fielders far and wide. After Jaffer was caught by Strauss off the skipper, Dhoni made a grand entrance. But the target was always a stiff one and bad light stopped play 10 overs before close.

Dravid said that they started the chase a little too late, "We started out with the plan of getting through the first two sessions and then seeing where we were at tea," he said. "It was never going to be easy to chase those runs on that wicket. To have a go we probably needed Dhoni or Irfan to keep going for a bit longer." Flintoff hailed the young team for sticking to the basics, "Every single player in our dressing room can be proud of what we've done this week," he said. "Now we've got to do it all again in the next Test in Mohali. But there's an excitement in our dressing room right now. We're a young side, playing good cricket, and we're up for playing against India." The action then shifts to Mohali in three days time.

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