Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly batted resolutely to help India
stretch their first innings lead and take control of the second cricket Test against
England at Trent Bridge here today.
At lunch on the third day, India were 338 for three in reply to England's 198,
with Tendulkar batting on 87 and Ganguly on 53.
The unbroken partnership of the overnight pair, worth 92 runs
so far, meant India's lead had swelled to 140 runs now.
Tendulkar, inching closer to his 38th Test hundred - had so
far batted for nearly five hours, faced 191 balls and struck 11 fours.
Ganguly made his runs at a quicket pace, from 131 minutes and
98 balls with eight fours and a six.
With the Indians resuming the day at 254 for 3, England took
the second new ball as soon as it was due, in the second over of the day.
And with Ryan Sidebottom bowling an excellent spell,
although without any luck, it was a tough grind for the Indians, most notably
Tendulkar who took it upon himself to face eight out of the left-arm seamer's
nine overs.
Sidebottom's first spell read an amazing 9-6-7-0, and Tendulkar
had to bring in all his experience into play.
The muscular bowler swung the ball appreciably, beat Tendulkar
on a few occasions, and came up with some close calls.
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