What an incredible win for us! Labeled as poor travelers for long, but this decade has seen some memorable wins abroad by Team India.
So much so, that I would rate it as a better test side than ODI one presently.
Having miraculously survived the first test, it was a pleasant shock to see us dominating the 2nd test for the entire stretch.
Winning the toss helped of course. And the bowlers did the job, as they have done often in helpful conditions overseas. It has always been the failure of batters on the lively pitches that has resulted in the poor off-shore record.
Not this time. The newly forged partnership of Karthik-Jaffer came through with a gutsy and steady opening stand of 147 runs. That laid the foundation.However I still don't agree with the make shift arrangement of having a non-specialist opener. Even though Sehwag and now Karthik in the brief stint have done very well.
The middle order built upon it, helped by the increasingly batsmen-friendly pitch now.
Ganguly and Sachin thrived but were very unlucky to be given out wrongly. Both could have easily got a 100 to their names, especially Sachin who went for 91.
Indians made sure of a big lead of 283. No 100s though, which was very unusual for an Indian innings of this magnitude.
With 2 days left in the match, India were clear favorites for the win. Only doubt was whether they could get the 10 wickets on a now flat track.
They needed the bowlers to win this now. And in stepped Zaheer. Great bowling from him as he took 5-75 to rip the top-order of England. Only Vaughan with a fine ton shone from the british side.
But the ball of the match was bowled by RP Singh. He clean bowled Matt Prior with a beaut of a delivery, coming round the wicket and a huge inswinger uprooting the middle stick of Prior beating him hands down. Akram couldn't have done it better!
We only needed 73 to secure the win in the last innings and a 7 wicket win was the final outcome.
A great chance then for a famous series win in England. Lets see!
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