Friday, December 12, 2008

Live text - India v England

FIRST TEST, Chennai (day three):
India 189-6 v England 316

India resume on 155-6 on day three of the first Test in Chennai, still trailing England by 161 runs.

The tourists unexpectedly became favourites to win the match when taking two wickets just before tea on Friday, and three more in the final session.

Graeme Swann has already had a debut to remember with two wickets in his first over, while Andrew Flintoff bowled with hostility and accuracy late in the day.

Mahendra Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh were trying to rebuild the Indian innings.

LATEST ACTION (ALL TIMES GMT)

By Sam Lyon

606: DEBATE
e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with 'For Sam Lyon' in the subject), text 81111 (with "CRICKET" as the first word). (Not all contributions can be used)

INDIA FIRST INNINGS

0441 - India 189-6
Panesar can't help but allow himself a rye smile as Bhaji goes for a wild reverse sweep and gloves it over Collingwood at wide slip and away for four, bringing up this pair's 50 partnership off 66 balls.

"Don't mention Christmas shopping. I'm hoping to start and finish mine tomorrow. Ambitious? Im also predicting an England win so i'd say ambitious is an understatement."
Will in London via the TMS inbox

0438 - India 184-6
Harmison - who has been stumbling around the outfield like a student making his way out of a £1-a-drink quiz night - is brought onto bowl and suddenly he looks Lazarus sprung from the ashes. Still, it's a bit wayward, Prior failing to stop a wayward leg-side delivery that goes away for a single but the keeper then taking a fabulous catch on the dive down leg - England claim a catch - Billy Bowden says it came of Bhaji's thigh pad. Close again.

0432 - India 181-6
Close! Dhoni prods tentatively at Panesar and a thick edge drops inches short of Ian Bell at short leg. Bhaji then goes on the attack, sweeping well for four before looping one of his gloves just over Bell with the same shot. India certainly looking to get runs on the board, here, rather than protecting their wickets.

0428 - India 174-6
India continue to tick along, adding another Freddie no-ball and then a single to the total and there's a distinct lack of England zip so far this morning. Flintoff leaves the field for some reason - it could be a Billy Bowden-esque dash to the little boys room - and KP might start thinking about mixing up his attack.

"Paul in Lancsh below sounds like Shteve McClaren with his new Dutch accent."
welcome dimitar on 606
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"Oh the joy of being made redundant - two days of reading blogs - listening to TMS - nipping to watch the telly at a fall of wicket and not bothered about the time of day. On top of that England doing well - Christmas shopping done - and my first ever contribution to the live text. Can life get any better??"
Bernard in Bexleyheath (sorry its not somewere exotic) via the TMS inbox
(You've finished your Christmas shopping? That's, like, against the spirit of the season isn't it? You're going to miss the fun of a mad dash on Christmas Eve you weirdo!)

0421 - India 172-6
Bhaji takes a minute to replace a contact lens but he continues in reserved mode on the resumption, prodding Panesar off his hips for a single, allowing Dhoni to punch square for another couple. A single to finish the over and this is a good start to the day from India.

0417 - India 168-6
First moment of concern for India as Harbhajan, who has been really quite reserved thus far, flays at a wide-ish one from Flintoff but misses by a couple of inches. Harmison relieves the pressure on the no.7, though, with the simplest of misfields and Dhoni then gloves a shorter one on the pull behind square for four.

"'Ere Sam, I'm jusht back from my Chrishtmash do, a do-be-do-be-do. It wash brilliant. Whatsa score? Are we winnin'. Lishten Sam, you're alright, you. I really like you, I mean, I really really like you. In fact, youre my besht mate, You an' Jamie in Shouthamption , he'sh great, he is. Oh, sat on me kebab. Engerland, Engerland."
Paul in Lancsh via the TMS inbox
(Paul, you always make me laugh, but I'm giggling like a schoolgirl at that. Well bowled sir)

0412 - India 163-6
Harbhajan pinches his first run of the day with a nudge to leg off Panesar, while Dhoni forces through the covers for a couple two balls later. No alarms at all so far for the hosts, but it is really rather dark out there. No rain is forecast today, just poor visibility fyi.

0408 - India 160-6
India's first run of the day comes from a Flintoff no-ball first up, and Dhoni then punches Freddie through square, getting on top of the bounce well, to bring up India's first boundary off the bat. Apparently Flintoff is "the only England bowler" he is afraid of. Big words, but can he back 'em up?

Vic Marks
"Word from the middle, by the way, is that the pitch is definitely turning BUT it is certainly not breaking up anywhere near as much as perhaps they thought it would. That might hinder England's hopes of skittling India this morning."
Vic Marks on TMS

0402 - India 155-6
Accurate enough from Monty Panesar, regulation drift and spin, and Harbhajan defends stoutly to play out a maiden. Grievous bodily Harmison has been doing his warm-ups in the outfield... but it will be Flintoff to take the second over. Maybe Harmison is still flexing that knee that he jarred yesterday.

0359: We're about to go, Panesar the man with the ball in his hands...

"Just got in from a night out and it's pouring it down with rain - let's hope the weather is better in Chennai and England can ram home their advantage!"
Jamie, Southampton via text

0352: So, according to our TMS boys in Chennai, the clouds have rolled over the M.A.Chidambaram Stadium - will that help swing? James Anderson and Andrew Flintoff, in particular, will hope so. That said, if Freddie can repeat the intensity and aggression he showed in that magnificent spell late on yesterday, swing or no swing Dhoni and Bhaji are in for a tougher time than an eskimo in a heatwave.

Jonathan Agnew
"India will resume under cloudy skies this morning out in Chennai but I don't think England will be too unhappy with that..."
Jonathan Agnew on TMS

"Paola and Oli await with baited breath in Chile for England to keep up appearances in India. Huzzah, it's 1am and we are in for the long haul..."
Oli Yates via the TMS inbox

0341: Lest we forget, India resume on 155-6 with Mahendra Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh at the crease, England still leading by 161 runs. Can England wrap up the home innings by lunch or will Dhoni and Bhaji lead an Indian fightback? We're all about to see...

0335: ...and YOU of course. No pressure but yesterday 606, the text hotline and my inbox were flooded with cracking missives and banter from all things cricket to mixed metaphors. I'm expecting more of the same please, you legends, so get in touch as always via email to tms@bbc.co.uk, text on 81111 or on 606.
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0330: I tell you what, that wasn't a bad day's cricket yesterday was it? Just as we thought England were going to stick to type and throw away a decent position in a Test match they turned it right on its head and now it's India who are on the back foot. Still, I guess there's plenty of time for all that to change... Wait! No! Optimism baby! I am genuinely in THE best mood this morning - partly helped by the fact Jona Lewie's 'Stop the Cavalry' was on the radio in the cab on the way into the office probably - so who better to add to my festive cheer than the boys in Chennai? England, it's over to you...

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