Bowlers turned the game in India’s favour

July 31: An all-round performance both by batting and bowling that in the end gave India a deserving win in the second Test against England at Trent Bridge by 7 wickets. Now India is in 1-0 lead in the three match test series and one can say it is a combined effort both by bowlers and batsmen.

Indian bowlers who confined England’s first innings total to 198 and then in the second innings to 355 when the game was totally in balance. However, full credit goes to Indian pace man Zaheer Khan who really bowled well in both the innings and took 9 wickets in the match.

Zaheer probably now in best of his form and playing in the county cricket for Worcestershire after injury indeed brought back his potential that has been seen in this series.

This time it is not that he took wickets of tell-enders but batsmen on the top like both the English openers Andrew Strauss, Alastair Cook, Michael Vaughan, Paul Collingwood and Ian Bell who hold the potential of taking away the match from opponent.

In fact in the second innings Vaughan’s wicket was the crucial one as he had already made 124 runs which shows his firmness in the crease. It was just after Vaughan’s wicket that England’s middle order collapsed in quick succession.

Apart from Khan, youngsters like RP Singh and S Sreesanth provided good support along with leg spinner Anil Kumble from the other end. Sreesanth’s aggression and his hunger of taking wicket is something that was missing from Indian team.

The vicious Indian bowling attack also consists wickets of Pietersen and Matt Prior taken by RP Singh both batsmen are well advanced to understand the situation but not for this time. RP Singh and Anil Kumble retain two wickets each in the second innings in their credit.

S Sreesanth though did not get any wicket in the second innings but lost his 50 percent match fee for indulging in arguments with England skipper Michael Vaughan. However, this kind of thing can be expected from a young player like him but that should be in limit.

Another positive thing that India can take forward to the third test is its batting especially the top order. Apart from a good opening stand five of its six top order batsmen registered half century though some decision of umpire Simon Tuffel went against India. As for now it seems that Karthik can be a good Test opener along with Jaffer if he maintains his consistency but that will be tested in the up coming matches. Anyway it is Zaheer Khan who proclaimed man of the match for his well contribution with an inspiring figure of 9-134.

The series from the very beginning was in favour of India as it nearly escaped from a certain defeat in the Lord’s Test due to weather. Then India now has a good chance to win the series with this 1-0 lead and hope for a consistent performance both from bowlers and batsmen at Oval Test starting from August 09.