Strauss and Collingwood bat England into commanding position
Strauss was the bedrock of England's innings again
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Saturday, 13, Dec 2008 08:08
Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood shared an unbeaten partnership of 129 at the end of day three to put England in a commanding position in the first Test against India.
The pair came together with the match finely poised with England 43-3 in their second innings but Strauss (73 not out) and Collingwood (60 not out) gave their side a lead of 247 runs at stumps.
Earlier India had been dismissed for 241 in their first innings. Resuming the day on 155-6 captain MS Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh put up stubborn resistance to England's bowlers during the morning session.
The pair added another 57 to that total before Monty Panesar had Harbhajan caught at short-leg by Ian Bell for 40.
That wicket brought two more in quick succession as Andrew Flintoff trapped Zaheer Khan(1) lbw and then Panesar got the crucial wicket of Dhoni – caught by Kevin Pietersen for 53 – to leave India on 219-9.
Although Amit Mishra and Ishant Sharma added 22 runs for the final wicket England would still have been pleased with a first innings lead of 75.
England began their second innings in circumspect manner with Sharma finding the edge a few times and making things uncomfortable for Strauss and Alastair Cook.
Sharma eventually earned his reward as Cook edged him to Dhoni for nine. Ian Bell also looked far from convincing at the crease with Khan giving England's batsmen a stern examination.
Strauss continued to play at his own pace, content to leave anything outside his off stump but Bell was soon back in the pavilion having added just seven to the score.
42-2 soon turned to 43-3 as Kevin Pietersen succumbed lbw to Yuvraj Singh. That brought Collingwood and Strauss together and the pair dug in to see England to 68-3 at tea.
In the final session of the day both men coped well with India's spin attack and were able to accumulate runs at will.
Both passed their half-centuries and by the close of play Strauss was closing in on his 200th run of the game.
The 100 partnership then came with half an hour of the day's play left before England close on 172-3. With a lead of 247 England will hope to press home their advantage on day four and move a step closer to winning the game.