Partnership, the key in India’s tall total: added flavour by Kumble

Aug 11: Indian cricket team with some of the finest batting performances by almost all of his players from top to bottom took the hold of the decider Test match against England at Oval. India resumes play at the score of 316/4 of first day and went to build a massive total of 664. England in reply were 24/1 at the stumps of second day.

From the very start of the match India with a solid stand by both the openers: Jaffer and Karthik did set the innings which later followed by Rahul Dravid (55), Sourav Ganguly (37), Sachin Tendulkar (82), VVS Laxma (51) and MS Dhoni (92). However, it was number eight batsman Anil Kumble who will remain highlight of the match with his unbeaten 110.

Anil Kumble played a good innings with some good association with all lower order batsmen including Dhoni and Sreesanth (35). Kumble in his 193-ball innings made 110 with the help of 16 boundaries and one straight six.

However, no one can ignore Sachin Tendulkar as he played one of the best innings of his career as without trying to entertain the crowd, he tried to maintain a good partnership. Sachin along with Laxman contributed 78 runs for the sixth wicket and 63 runs with Dhoni before he caught behind by Strauss in Anderson’s over.

Dhoni along with Kumble played his natural and unconventional play by hitting English bowlers all parts of the ground and made 92 of just only 81 balls that includes 9 boundaries and 4 huge sixes. He nearly missed his second Test century and got out by Kevin Petersen after hitting two consecutive sixes in the same over.

The lower order partnership of 62 runs between Kumble and Zaheer Khan, and a number of 73 between Kumble and Sreesanth really added more insult to England’s bowling attack. Indian team got all out after putting a massive total of 664 and in response England made 24/1 at the end of second day’s play; Alastair Cook (12) and night watchman James Anderson (1) was at the crease.

From this point the game is heading at least towards a draw if not a win for India but that will present India a Test series win after 21 years. Apart from this match will be memorable for all the senior players including Sachin, Sourav, Dravid and Kumble for whom it might be the last Test match for their career in England.