London: A listless India faced the prospect of an embarrasing series whitewash after yet another batting collapse left them struggling at 103 for five in reply to England’s massive 591 for six declared on a rain-hit third day of the fourth and final cricket Test here on Saturday.
The hosts rode on Ian Bell’s (235) maiden double century and Kevin Pietersen’s 175 to pile up an imposing first innings total and then had the Indians on the mat after riping through their top-order on a Oval track which still seems good for batting.
The visitors, who need to draw the match to avoid slipping to the number three position in the ICC Test Championship Table, lost the wickets of Virender Sehwag (8), VVS Laxman (2), Sachin Tendulkar (23), Suresh Raina (0) and night watchman Ishant Sharma (1) on the extended final session of the day to give England the upperhand in the match.
Rahul Dravid was the only batsmen to have shown some fight with a gritty 57 that came of 108 balls while giving him company was skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (5) when stumps were drawn on the third day of the match, which was marred by a three-hour rain interruption soon after lunch.
Off-spinner Graeme Swann was the pick of the English bowlers, scalping three wickets for 27 runs.
With two full days of cricket left and with India’s batting looking brittle, it will prove to be a herculean task for the battered visitors to save the match and avoid a 4-0 thrashing at the hands of England.
Earlier, replying to England’s mammoth total India were forced to change the batting order yet again as Gautam Gambhir did not open the innings because of a pre-cautionary medical check-up for mild concussion after he hurt himself on the second day yesterday.
Gambhir’s head hit the ground hard while attempting a catch yesterday. He was later taken to the hospital for a scan as he was feeling uncomfortable this morning. In Gambhir’s absence, Dravid opened the innings with Sehwag while Laxman came at the number three position.
Earlier, England’s plan of a 700-plus total took a hit due to unsuspected rain in the afternoon. Resuming at 457 for three, England added 134 more runs for the loss of three wickets from 30 overs in the two hours of the opening session of the day, which also saw Bell notching up his career-best score.
When the visitors came to bat the signs were bad straightaway as regular opener Gambhir did not come out to bat because of the injury.
Sehwag let go the first two deliveries before hitting two successive fours through the off-side of Anderson in the first over.
But the English pacer had the last laugh when he dismissed Sehwag LBW in the final delivery of the over.
VVS Laxman, who came into bat at number three, lasted just seven balls. Tendulkar who came in to a standing ovation departed in Swann’s third over, trying to sweep the off-spinner only managing to get a top-edge. (PTI)