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Gambhir and Dravid frustrate England

Gautam Gambhir hit an unbeaten 106 and Rahul Dravid finally returned to form with 65 not out as India made a solid start in the second Test against England on Friday.

The pair put on 173 for the unbroken second wicket as India recovered from the early loss of Virender Sehwag to post 179 for one by stumps on a shortened opening day’s play.

Left-handed Gambhir, who made 66 in the first Test in Chennai which India won by six wickets, slammed his third century this year and the fourth of his 22-match career.

The 27-year-old Delhi opener now has 964 runs in eight Tests this year at an average of 68.85, with a personal best of 206 against Australia in New Delhi in October.

Dravid, fighting to retain his Test place after a recent slump in form, recorded his 54th Test half-century, but the first in his last nine innings.

The pair batted through most of the gloomy day to frustrate England’s bid to gain quick wickets in a match they must win to draw the two-match series.

Play began 20 minutes late due to bad light and ended 18 overs early as dark clouds gathered over the Punjab Cricket Association ground.

India began slowly after electing to bat in overcast conditions, groping for the first 10 overs of the match to make 15 runs after losing the dangerous Sehwag in the second over.

Fast bowler Stuart Broad, returning to the England side in place of Steve Harmison after missing the first Test with a hamstring injury, struck with his sixth delivery.

Sehwag, man of the match in Chennai for his explosive 83 off 68 balls, failed to score as he edged Broad’s outswinger to wicket-keeper Matt Prior.

Dravid, who turns 36 in January, walked in at his usual number three position despite making just 342 runs in his last 10 Tests at an average of 19.

His lone four in the morning session, a pull off James Anderson off the 46th ball he faced, was his first boundary in five innings.

It was left to Gambhir to keep the scoreboard moving before lunch with six fours, including two in Monty Panesar’s first over.

India ended the morning session on 51-1 from 21 overs, 35 of those runs coming from Gambhir’s bat.

Dravid opened out after the break, driving Panesar through the covers for his second boundary, before two fluent on-drives off Andrew Flintoff and Broad showed he was finally middling the ball.

Another off-drive off Panesar brought up India’s 100 in which Dravid’s contribution was 39.

Gambhir stroked freely at the other end but was lucky to escape twice after reaching 70, off-spinner Graeme Swann being the unlucky bowler both times.

Paul Collingwood failed to grasp a sharp chance in the slips as Gambhir edged Swann, before umpire Daryl Harper turned down the bowler’s loud shout for leg-before.

Television replays showed the ball heading towards the middle stump.

Gambhir has so far hit 12 boundaries, besides a six off Panesar, while Dravid has seven fours.

INDIA - 1ST INNINGS

G. Gambhir not out			106
V. Sehwag c Prior b Broad		  0
R. Dravid not out			 65

EXTRAS: (LB-3, NB-5)			  8
TOTAL (for one wicket)			179

FALL OF WICKET: 1-6 (Sehwag).
BOWLING: Anderson 15-3-29-0 (nb2), Broad 16-7-45-1, Flintoff 13-2-31-0 (nb3), Panesar 13-2-41-0, Swann 15-4-30-0 Overs: 72

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