Sharma’s heroics peg back England

Prior helps hosts push lead beyond 300 as top-order struggles at Lord’s.

LONDON:

Matt Prior’s unbeaten half-century revived England’s second-innings after India fast-bowler Ishant Sharma’s inspired spell had thrown the first Test at Lord’s wide open.

England were 174 for six at tea on the fourth day, a lead of 362 runs, having collapsed to 62 for five when Prior came to the crease.

Prior was 55 not out at the interval with Stuart Broad unbeaten on 36, offering good support in a seventh-wicket partnership so far worth 67. India were reduced to just three frontline bowlers as left-arm quick Zaheer Khan remained off the field with a hamstring strain.

Sharma, at tea, had taken four wickets for 41 runs. England had resumed on five without loss, a lead of 193 runs. But it was not long before the Test was turned on its head.

Alastair Cook was caught behind by India captain MS Dhoni off Praveen Kumar after scoring just one. But the real slump started when England captain Andrew Strauss, trying to break the shackles, was dismissed for 32 to off-spinner Harbhajan Singh.

Kevin Pietersen, fresh from his double-century in the first-innings, was undone by a steepling delivery from Sharma and could only nick through to Dhoni and five balls later, Ian Bell went in similar fashion for nought. Sharma then bowled Jonathan Trott for 22.

Eoin Morgan became Sharma’s fourth victim, being dismissed for 19.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 25^th,  2011.