Cricket story by Carl Anders, Sat, 11 Mar 2006 17:44:00 GMT


MOHALI, India - Steve Harmison appeared to have got back his flair for picking up wickets as he got Virender Sehwag edging one behind him as India made a bad start to their first innings in reply to England's 300 all out. The day though belonged to ace leg spinner Anil Kumble who became the fifth bowler and the first Indian to gain entry into the 500-wicket club.

England began the day at 200-5 and captain Andrew Flintoff and keeper Jones strung together a useful partnership of 103 runs before Flintoff was caught and bowled by Munaf Patel. Thereafter England lost quick wickets with Kumble being the wrecker-in chief. He had Jones bowled and off the very next ball, he got his 500th wicket of Steve Harmison. Kumble then polished off Monty Panesar to finish off the England innings.

The tourists lost their last 5 wickets in just 17 runs. India began cautiously, but Harmison provided the early breakthrough of Sehwag. Dravid and Jaffer were associated in a 78 run stand before Panesar got Jaffer.

Tendulkar was gone off a brutal delivery off Flintoff and Hoggard accounted for Yuvraj Singh. At close, Dravid was batting on 60 and Dhoni was on 12. The match looks to be headed for a draw since most of the play on the first two days was washed out by bad light and rain.

Anil Kumble was delighted with the milestone, "It's a great feeling to be able to get to this milestone," he said. "As only five bowlers in the world have got to 500, it's indeed special. To be the first Indian ever makes it a more special feeling. The main source of inspiration is the belief that I can perform at this level."

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