Zeenews Bureau/ Tanvir KhanMohali, Dec 21: Thick fog delayed start of the fourth day's play of the second and final cricket Test between India and England. Umpire Daryl Harper said because of the heavy fog, the match would start late for the second day in a row even though he didn't explain when.
Harper, however, seemed optimistic that sun would come out soon.
Earlier yesterday, Kevin Pietersen’s marathon innings finally came to an end after Harbhajan Singh caught the England captain plumb in front of the wickets for 144 runs that came off just 201 deliveries.
Another high for team India after some tough treatment by the England batsmen was the dangerous looking Andrew Flintoff who was dismissed by Amit Mishra off the last ball of the day.
He put up a 149 run partnership with centurion Kevin Pietersen to bring England back in the game after the Indian bowlers were threatening to bowl the visitors out of the game. Pietersen slammed a timely ton (15th Test century) to bail England out of a position where they were reeling at 2/1. The South African born right hander played a captain’s knock to avoid what could well have been another embarrassing slump for the visiting team.
Earlier in the day, Cook (50) and Pietersen had put up a hundred run stand after Zaheer and Ishant had put England on the defensive with two early wickets before a toe crushing yorker by Zaheer caught Cook plumb in front of the wickets. Collingwood, who had come to replace Cook at the crease, could not last long either. He was sent back to the pavilion by Amit Mishra who had him caught behind by MS Dhoni for 11.
However, after the loss of four wickets, captain Kevin joined hands with the experienced Flintoff to put up a half century partnership for the fifth wicket. The partnership came at a very good run rate owing to some big hits by both the Englishmen including a perfect switch hit by the England captain. The duo also took the team’s total past the 150 run mark.
England had gone into lunch on day 3 of the second Test match at Mohali at 57 for the loss of two wickets.
The visitors were shocked at the start of play on day 3 as Zaheer Khan gave the first breakthrough to India when he caught Strauss plumb in front of the wickets sending him back for a duck.
Then it was Ishant Sharma’s turn to join the party as he went through the defence gates of Ian Bell and sent his stump flying out of the ground.
Earlier in the day, after losing 9 overs of play on day 2 due to bad light, the start of play on day 3 also received the same treatment from the weather gods. The start of play was delayed due to the reason that Mohali was bathing in dense fog.
Eighteen overs of play on day 1 and nine overs on day 2 had already been spoilt due to bad light.
As of the match, India were wrapped up for 453 in the first innings after getting off to a rock solid start provided by Gambhir and Dravid. England had come right back in the game after they got Gambhir and folded India’s innings only 134 runs after Gambhir departed as the second wicket.