Dravid-led India win curtailE(nglan)d match

India made just one change to their playing eleven – R P Singh made way for Gautam Gambhir. England made one change to the eleven that last played the Indians – Andrew Flintoff made way for Jon Lewis.

On winning the toss, Paul Collingwood, England’s skipper, inserted the Indians, whose openers put on 50 off 8.5 overs. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a run. While the contribution of Sourav Ganguly, the player of the match, to the partnership was 22, Sachin Tendulkar’s contribution to it was 27.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 12^th and the 16^th over. Tendulkar’s half-century – which included eight boundaries – came off 46 balls. The third Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 17^th and the 21^th over.

Seventeen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India had scored 97 without the loss of a wicket at that point. While Ganguly was batting on 32, Tendulkar was batting on 62.

India scored 100 off 17.5 overs. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was three. While Ganguly’s contribution to the partnership was 34, Sachin Tendulkar’s contribution to it was 63.

Tendulkar eventually scored 71. His 59-ball innings included 13 boundaries. A hundred and eighteen balls into the match, he was caught by Matt Prior. Lewis broke the 116-run partnership.

Ganguly’s half-century – which included seven boundaries and a six – came off 67 balls. India scored 150 off 26.3 overs. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was four.

Ganguly, whose 79-ball innings included seven boundaries and a couple of sixes, scored 59. Forty-three balls after Tendulkar’s dismissal, he was caught by Alastair Cook. Monty Panesar broke the 34-run stand.

The 28^th over of India’s innings – which was bowled by Stuart Broad – was a seven-ball over. It was called by Pakistani umpire Aleem Dar. Thirty-two overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. India had scored 180 for the loss of a couple of wickets at that point. While Gautam Gambhir was batting on 28, Yuvraj Singh was batting on 18.

India scored 200 off 36 overs. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was four. India’s third-wicket pair put on 50 off 56 balls. Extras didn’t contribute to the partnership. While Gambhir’s contribution to the partnership was 23, Yuvraj’s contribution to it was 27.

While Yuvraj’s half-century – which included seven boundaries and a six – came off 46 balls, Gambhir’s half-century – which included five boundaries – came off 64 balls. The latter eventually scored 51. Eighty-nine balls later, he was caught by the substitute, Andrew Gale. The 94-run partnership was broken by Broad.

India scored 250 off 42 overs. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was half-a-dozen. Yuvraj, whose 57-ball innings included 1o boundaries and a couple of sixes, eventually scored 72. Seventeen balls later, he was caught by James Anderson. Collingwood broke the 22-run stand.

Forty-seven overs into the match, there was a rain interruption. India had scored 286 for the loss of four wickets at that point. While Mahendra Singh Dhoni was batting on 16, Rahul Dravid, India’s skipper, was batting on four. India scored 300 off 47.4 overs. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was 13.

Dhoni, whose 17-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 24. Twenty-five balls later, he was caught by Prior. Anderson broke the 45-run stand. The sixth-wicket pair had no reason to be in seventh heaven. Dravid, whose 17-ball innings included three boundaries and a six, scored 24. Five balls later, Prior ran him out.

Dinesh Karthik, who faced three balls, scored a couple. He was unbeaten, as was Zaheer Khan, who faced three balls, scoring four. His runs came by way of a boundary. England eventually conceded 17 extras. India scored 324 for the loss of half-a-dozen extras off 50 overs.

Kevin Pietersen, who bowled five balls, had no reason to be in seventh heaven – he was wicketless, as was Bopara, who bowled seven balls, conceding as many. Panesar, who bowled eight overs, conceded 50. He picked up a wicket, as did Broad, who bowled 10 overs, conceding 84.

Lewis, Anderson and Collingwood bowled 10 overs, including a maiden, each, picking up a wicket apiece. They conceded 63, 60 and 48, respectively.

England’s target was revised to 281 off 39 overs. Alastair Cook, who faced 11 balls, scored four. (Dho)Nineteen balls into the match, he was caught behind. Needless to say, Ajit Agarkar was in seventh heaven.

England scored 50 off 8.2 overs. India had conceded four extras at that point. Their second-wicket pair put on 50 off 39 balls. While Prior’s contribution to the partnership was 27, Ian Bell’s contribution to the partnership was 21. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was four.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over. Prior, whose 45-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 46. Sixty-four balls after Cook’s dismissal, he was stumped. Ganguly broke the (Dho)ninety-run partnership.

England scored 100 off 14.3 overs. India had conceded nine extras at that point. Pietersen, who faced three balls, D(hon)idn’t get off the mark. Seven balls later, he was caught behind. Khan broke the five-run stand.

Fifteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India had scored 102 for the loss of three wickets at that point. Bell was batting on 43. The second Powerplay of India’s innings was the 16^th over. Bell, whose 38-ball innings included eight boundaries, eventually scored 44. Five balls later, he was caught by Dhoni. Ganguly broke the two-run stand.

Ninety-nine balls into the chase, there was a rain interruption. England had scored 105 for the loss of four wickets at that point. While Collingwood was batting on a couple, Owais Shah hadn’t opened his account. Five overs were lost due to the rain. Shah, who faced 36 balls, scored 15. Sixty balls later, he was caught by Dhoni. Ramesh Powar broke the 41-run stand.

England scored 150 off 27.4 overs. India had conceded nine extras at that point. Collingwood’s half-century – which included three boundaries and a couple of sixes – came off 41 balls.

Thirty-one overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. India had scored 188 for the loss of five wickets at that point. While Collingwood was batting on 60, Bopara was batting on nine. The latter eventually conceded 11. His 16-ball innings included a boundary. Thirty-seven balls later, he was caught by Powar, who broke the 48-run stand.

Broad, who faced three balls, scored a run. An over (Chaw)later, he was caught by Karthik. Piyush broke the three-run stand. England scored 200 off 33.3 overs. India had conceded 10 extras at that point.

Lewis, whose 15-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 17. Thirty-four balls later, he was caught by Dhoni. Agarkar broke the 44-run stand. Collingwood, whose 71-ball innings included three boundaries and four sixes, scored 91. He was unbeaten, as was Anderson, who faced a ball, scoring a run.

Thirty-nine overs into the match, there was a rain interval. India had conceded 12 extras. England, who had scored 242 for the loss of eight wickets at that point, lost by 38 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Tendulkar bowled five wicketless overs, conceding 35. Chawla bowled five overs, conceding 31. He picked up a wicket, as did Khan, who bowled eight overs, conceding 44. Agarkar, Powar and Ganguly bowled seven overs each, picking up two scalps apiece. They conceded 58, 45 and 26, respectively.

England led the seven-match series 3-2.

England wIn(di)again; Dravid is disheartened

India made just one change to their playing (Pat)eleven – Munaf made way for Ajit Agarkar. England made just change to their playing eleven – Chris Tremlett made way for Andrew Flintoff.

On winning the toss, Rahul Dravid, India’s skipper, chose to bat. Sourav Ganguly, whose 14-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored nine. Twenty balls into the match, he was caught by Ian Bell. James Anderson broke the 17-run stand.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over. Dinesh Karthik, who faced 22 balls, scored four. His runs came by a way of a boundary. Forty-two balls after Ganguly’s dismissal, he was caught by Matt Prior. Stuart Broad, the player of the match, broke the 14-run stand.

Dravid, who faced eight balls, scored just a run. Ten balls later, he was caught by Prior. Flintoff broke the one-run stand. Fifteen overS(ach)into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India had scored 46 for the loss of three wickets at that point. While Tendulkar was batting on 20, Yuvraj Singh was batting on one.

India’s 50 came off 16.4 overs. England had conceded 11 extras at that point. The fourth-wicket pair put on 50 off 86 balls. While Tendulkar’s contribution to the partnership was 31, Yuvraj’s contribution to it was a dozen. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was seven.

Tendulkar’s half-century – which included eight boundaries – came off 81 balls. India’s 100 came off 29.2 overs. England had conceded 11 extras at that point. Tendulkar, whose 86-ball (Kev)innings included nine boundaries, eventually scored 55. A hundred and five balls later, he was caught by Flintoff. Pietersen broke the 71-run partnership.

Thirty-two overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. India had scored 112 for the loss of four wickets at that point. While Yuvraj was batting on 32, Mahendra Singh Dhoni was batting on four. The latter, whose 18-ball innings included a boundary, eventually scored 13. Forty-nine balls later, Monty Panesar broke the 27-run stand.

Agarkar, whose five-ball innings included a boundary, scored half-a-dozen. Eight balls later, he was caught by Prior. Needless to say, Broad was in seventh heaven. India’s 150 came off 40.2 overs. England had conceded a dozen extras at that point.

Yuvraj’s half-century – which included three boundaries and a six – came off 90 balls. He eventually scored 71. His 104-ball innings included five boundaries and a six. Thirty-two balls later, Broad broke the 31-run stand. Ramesh Powar, who faced 11 balls, scored seven. A couple of balls later, he was caught by Bell. Broad broke the one-run stand.

India’s 200 came off 48.2 overs. England had conceded a dozen extras at that point. Piyush Chawla, whose 11-ball innings included a boundary, scored 13. He was unbeaten. Zaheer Khan, whose 19-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 20. Twenty-eight balls later, he was caught by Paul Collingwood, England’s skipper. Anderson broke the 31-run stand.

R P Singh, who faced a ball, didn’t get off the mark. A couple of balls later, he was caught by Ravi Bopara. Anderson broke the tow-run stand. England eventually conceded 13 extras. India were dismissed for 212 off 49.4 overs. Collingwood, who bowled nine wicketless overs, conceded 43.

Pietersen, who bowled an over, conceded half-a-dozen. He picked up a wicket, as did Panesar and Flintoff, who bowled 10 overs apiece. While the former conceded 39, the latter, whose spell included three maidens, conceded 31.

Anderson bowled 9.4 overs, including a couple of maidens. He conceded 38, picking up three wickets. Broad bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 51, picking up four scalps.

England’s openers didn’t get off the mark. Alastair Cook, who faced five balls, didn’t open his account. Five balls into the chase, he was dismissed by Khan. Prior, who faced five balls, scored four. Fourteen balls later, he was caught by Powar. Agarkar broke the run-a-ball stand.

Bell, whose 20-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 24. Sixteen balls later, Agarkar broke the 21-run stand. England scored 50 off 10 overs. India had conceded five extras at that point.

The second Powerplay of England’s innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over. Pietersen, whose 21-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 18. Fifty-three balls after Bell’s dismissal, he was caught by Chawla. Agarkar broke the 46-run partnership.

Eighty-eight balls into the chase, the first drinks break was taken. England had scored 81 for the loss of four wickets at that point. Collingwood was batting on 30. The third Powerplay of England’s innings was between the 16^th and the 20^th over.

Flintoff, whose eight-ball innings included a boundary, scored five. Eleven balls later, he was caught by Yuvraj. Agarkar broke the 14-run stand. England scored 100 off 17.3 overs. India had conceded half-a-dozen extras at that point.

Owais Shah, whose 20-ball innings included a boundary, conceded eight. Twenty-nine balls later, he was caught by caught by Karthik. Powar broke the 15-run stand. The seventh-wicket pair put on four. Collingwood, whose 55-ball innings included seven boundaries, scored 47. Fifteen balls later, R P and Dhoni ran him out.

Thirty-two overs into the chase, the second drinks break was taken. England had scored 140 for the loss of seven wickets at that point. While Bopara was batting on 16, Broad was batting on 11.

England scored 150 off 34.4 overs. India had conceded eight extras at that point. The eighth-wicket pair put on 50 off 85 balls. While Bopara’s contribution to the partnership was 25, Broad’s contribution to it was 23. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a couple. England scored 200 off 44.5 overs. India had conceded 16 extras at that point.

Bopara, whose 82-ball innings included three boundaries, eventually scored 43. He was unbeaten, as was Broad, whose 73-ball innings included three boundaries, eventually scoring 45. India eventually conceded 19 extras. England, who scored 213 for the loss of seven overs off 48 balls, won by three wickets with a couple of overs to spare.

Tendulkar, who bowled a wicketless overs, conceded four. Yuvraj, who bowled a couple of wicketless overs, conceded eight. R P, who bowled half-a-dozen wicketless overs, conceded 22. Chawla, who bowled 10 wicketless overs, conceded 43.

Khan bowled nine overs, including a maiden. He conceded 45, picking up a wicket. Powar, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 26. He picked up a wicket. Agarkar, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 60. He picked up four scalps.

England led the three-match series 3-1.

England triumph; India are D(rav)i(sheartene)d

India made just one change to their playing eleven – Ajit Agarkar made way for Zaheer Khan. England made a couple of changes to the eleven that last played the Indians – Andrew Flintoff and Dimitri Mascarenhas made way for Owais Shah and Monty Panesar.

On winning the toss, Rahul Dravid, India’s skipper, inserted the Englishmen. The second Powerplay of their innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over. England’s 50 came off 10.2 overs (64 balls). India had conceded five extras at that point. While Alastair Cook’s contribution to the partnership was 21, Matt Prior’s contribution to it was 24.

Prior, whose 40-ball innings included four boundaries, eventually scored 34. Eighty-two balls into the match, he was caught by Piyush Chawla. Munaf Patel broke the 76-run stand. The third Powerplay of England’s innings was between the 16^th and the 20^th over.

Sixteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. England had scored 85 for the loss of one wicket at that point. While Cook was batting on 39, Ian Bell, the player of the match, had scored just a couple.

Cook whose 56-ball innings included four boundaries, eventually scored 40. Twenty-seven balls after Prior’s dismissal, he was caught by Yuvraj Singh. Ramesh Powar broke the 16-run stand.

England’s 100 came off 20.5 overs (133 balls). India had conceded 13 extras at that point. Pietersen, whose 22-ball (Kev)innings included a boundary, scoreD(ho)nine. Thirty-five balls after Cook’s dismissal, he was stumped by Mahendra Singh. Chawla broke the 26-run stand.

England’s 150 came off 31.2 overs (198 balls). India had conceded 15 extras at that point. Thirty-three overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. England had scored 156 for the loss of three wickets at that point. While Bell was batting on 39, Paul Collingwood, England’s skipper, was batting on 19.

The fourth-wicket pair put on 50 off 66 balls. While Bell’s contribution to the partnership was 22, Collingwood’s contribution to it was 28. Extras did not contribute to the partnership. Bell’s half-century – which included a couple of boundaries and a six – came off 64 balls.

Collingwood, whose 53-ball (Rob)innings included a couple of boundaries and a six, eventually scored 44. Eighty-eight balls after Pietersen’s dismissal, he was caught by the substitute, Uthappa. The offie broke the 75-run P(ow)artnership.

England’s 200 came off 39.5 overs (249 balls). India had conceded 16 extras at that point. Shah, whose 15-ball innings included a six, scored 19. Twenty-eight balls later, Yuvraj broke the 33-run partnership. Ravi, whose nine-B(opar)all innings included a boundary, scored 10. Thirteen balls later, he was caught by Dravid. R P Singh broke the 20-run stand.

England’s 250 came off 46 overs (286 balls). India had conceded 16 extras at that point. Bell – who represented Warwickshire (which plays its home matches at Edgbaston) – eventually scored 79. His 89-ball innings included a couple of boundaries and as many sixes. A dozen balls after Bopara’s dismissal, R P broke the nine-run stand.

Stuart Broad, whose 11-ball innings included a boundary, scored 10. A dozen balls later, he was caught by Yuvraj. R P broke the 18-run stand. Chris Tremlett, whose nine-ball innings included a boundary and a six, scored 19. He was unbeaten, as was James Anderson, who didn’t face a ball.

India eventually conceded 17 extras. England scored 281 for the loss of eight overs off 50 overs. Khan, who bowled 10 wicketless overs, conceded 49. Patel, who bowled five overs, conceded 37. He picked up a wicket. Yuvraj, who bowled seven overs, conceded 39. He picked up a wicket.

Chawla, who bowled nine overs, conceded 50. He picked up a wicket. Powar, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 45. He picked up a couple of wickets. R P bowled nine overs, including a maiden. He conceded 55, picking up three scalps.

Tendulkar, whose 19-ball innings included a boundary, scored eight. Ten overS(ach)into the chase, he was caught by Collingwood. Anderson broke the 35-run stand. The second Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over.

Karthik, who faced a couple of balls, didn’t get off the mark. Five balls after Tendulkar’s dismissal, he was caught by Cook. Broad broke the one-run stand. India’s 50 came off 13.5 overs (84 balls). England had conceded half-a-dozen extras at that point. The third Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 16^th and the 20^th over.

Sixteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India had scored 77 for the loss of a couple of wickets at that point. While Sourav Ganguly was batting on 39, Dravid was batting on 22.

The third-wicket pair put on 50 off 46 balls. While Ganguly’s contribution to the partnership was 16, Dravid’s contribution to it was 28. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was half-a-dozen.

India’s 100 came off 22.3 overs (137 balls). England had conceded eight extras at that point. While Dravid’s half-century – which included seven boundaries and a six – came off 51 balls, Ganguly’s half-century – which included seven boundaries – came off 82 balls.

The third-wicket pair put on 100 off 112 balls. While Ganguly’s contribution to the partnership was 39, Dravid’s contribution to it was 56. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was eight.

The Wall, whose 61-ball innings included seven boundaries and a six, D(rav)idn’t add to the aforementioned score. A hundred and fourteen balls later, Tremlett broke the 104-run partnership.

Ganguly, whose 104-ball innings included nine boundaries and a six, eventually scored 72. A dozen balls later, he was caught by Prior. Tremlett broke the nine-run stand. India’s 150 came off 32.2 overs (196 balls). England had conceded 10 extras at that point.

Thirty-four overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. India had scored 168 for the loss of four wickets at that point. While Yuvraj was batting on 19, Dhoni had scored just a couple. The latter, who faced 20 balls, eventually scored 13. Thirty-nine balls later, he was caught by Collingwood. Anderson broke the 41-run stand.

India’s 200 came off 40.3 overs (247 balls). England had conceded a dozen extras at that point. Powar, who faced 13 balls, scored just five. Twenty-three balls later, he was caught by Bell. Collingwood broke the 20-run stand. Chawla, who faced a couple of balls, scored a run. Four balls later, he was caught by Bell. Collingwood broke the three-run stand.

The eighth-wicket pair put on a run. Yuvraj, whose 39-ball innings included four boundaries and a six, eventually scored 45. Four balls later, Bell and Monty Panesar ran him out. Khan, whose 12-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 11. Twenty-two balls later, Panesar broke the 20-run stand.

R P, who faced 16 balls, scored a dozen. He was unbeaten. Patel, who faced three balls, scored a run. Half-a-dozen balls later, Anderson broke the five-run stand. England conceded 15 extras. India, who were dismissed for 239 off 48.1 overs, lost by 42 runs.

Bopara bowled two wicketless overs, conceded 12. Broad bowled nine overs, including a maiden. He conceded 34, picking up a wicket. Panesar bowled 10 overs, conceding 49. He picked up a wicket.

Tremlett bowled eight overs, conceding 57. He picked up two wickets, as did Collingwood, who bowled 10 overs, conceding 45. Anderson bowled 9.1 overs, including three maidens. He conceded 32, picking up three scalps.

England led the seven-match series 2-1.

Under Dravid’s lE(ngl)a(n)dership, India triumph

India made a couple of changes to their playing (Pat)eleven – Gautam Gambhir and Zaheer Khan made way for Ramesh Powar and Munaf. England made just one change to the eleven that last played the Indians – Monty Panesar made way for Chris Tremlett.

On winning the toss, Rahul Dravid, India’s skipper and the player of the match, chose to bat. The second Powerplay of their innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over.

India’s openers put on 50 off 12.2 overs (78 balls). England had conceded five extras at that point. While Sourav Ganguly’s contribution to the partnership was 14, Sachin Tendulkar’s contribution to it was 34.

Fifteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India had scored 69 without the loss of a wicket at that point. While Ganguly was batting on 21, Tendulkar was batting on 41. The third Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 16^th and the 20^th over.

Tendulkar’s half-century – which included 10 boundaries – came off 56 balls. India’s openers put on 100 off 17 overs (110 balls). England had conceded 11 extras at that point. While Ganguly’s contribution to the partnership was 37, Tendulkar’s contribution to it was 52.

Ganguly, whose 54-ball innings included five boundaries and a six, scored 39. A hundred and seventeen balls into the match, he was caught by Paul Collingwood, England’s skipper. Andrew Flintoff broke the 113-run partnership.

A hundred and fifty-seven overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India had scored 149 for the loss of a wicket at that point. While Tendulkar was batting on 88, Yuvraj Singh was batting on five.

India put on 150 off 26.2 overs (167 balls). England had conceded 17 extras at that point. The second-wicket pair put on 50 off as many balls. While Tendulkar’s contribution to the partnership was 35, Yuvraj’s contribution to the partnership was 14. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a run.

Tendulkar, whose 112-ball innings included 15 boundaries and a six, scored 99. Seventy-two balls after Ganguly’s dismissal, he was caught by Matt Prior. Flintoff broke the 67-run partnership.

India put on 200 off 34.4 overs (217 balls). England had conceded 17 extras at that point. The third-wicket pair put on 50 off as 51 balls. While Yuvraj’s contribution to the partnership was 22, Dravid’s contribution to the partnership was 28. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was three.

Yuvraj, whose 53-ball innings including half-a-dozen boundaries, scored 49. Fifty-six balls after Tendulkar’s dismissal, he was caught by Collingwood. Stuart Broad broke the 63-run partnership.

India put on 250 off 42.4 overs (268 balls). England had conceded 20 extras at that point. Dravid’s half-century – which included half-a-dozen boundaries – came off 43 balls.

The fourth-wicket pair put on 50 off as 34 balls. While Dravid’s contribution to the partnership was 28, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s contribution to the partnership was 20. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a couple.

India put on 300 off 46.4 overs (295 balls). England had conceded 24 extras at that point. Dhoni, whose 18-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 21. Thirty-seven balls later, he was caught by Tremlett. James Anderson broke the 59-run stand.

Dinesh Karthik, who faced a couple of balls, scored a run. Five balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Flintoff, who broke the eight-run stand. Ajit Agarkar, who faced three boundaries, scored a run. Eight balls later, he was caught by Prior. Flintoff broke the 14-run stand.

Powar, who faced a couple of balls, scored a run. Three balls later, he was caught by Prior. Flintoff broke the two-run stand. Dravid, whose 63-ball innings included 11 boundaries and a six, scored 92. He was unbeaten, as was Piyush Chawla, who faced a ball, scoring a run.

England eventually conceded 25 extras. India scored 329 for the loss of seven wickets off 50 overs. Mascarenhas, Bopara and Collingwood bowled four wicketless overs apiece. They conceded 31, 27 and 24, respectively. Tremlett, who bowled nine wicketless overs, conceded 73.

Broad, who bowled nine overs, conceded 54. He picked up a wicket, as was Anderson, who bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 56, as did Flintoff, who bowled 10 overs, picking up five scalps.

England’s openers put on 50 off 6.3 overs (43 balls). India had conceded four extras at that point. While Alastair Cook’s contribution to the partnership was 21, Prior’s contribution to it was 26. The second Powerplay of their innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over.

Prior, whose 28-ball innings included half-a-dozen boundaries, scored 33. Sixty-five balls later, he was caught by Dravid. Munaf Patel broke the 76-run partnership. The second-wicket pair D(hon)idn’t get off the mark. Cook, whose 41-ball innings included eight boundaries, scored 36. The next ball, he was caught behind off the bowling of Patel.

Fourteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. England had scored 89 for the loss of a couple of wickets at that point. While Ian Bell was batting on eight, Kevin Pietersen was batting on three. The third Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 16^th and the 20^th over.

England scored 100 off 15.2 overs (102 balls). India had conceded 10 extras at that point. The third-wicket pair put on 50 off 57 balls. While Bell’s contribution to the partnership was 19, Pietersen’s contribution to it was 23. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was nine.

Pietersen, whose run-a-ball innings included three boundaries, eventually scored 25. Sixty-two balls later, Chawla broke the 58-run partnership.

England scored 150 off 23.4 overs (154 balls). India had conceded 16 extras at that point. Collingwood, whose 25-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 27. Forty-seven balls later, Chawla broke the 42-run stand.

A hundred and seventy-five balls into the match, the second drinks break was taken. England had scored 176 for the loss of four wickets at that point. Bell was batting on 39.

Although his innings included a couple of boundaries, Flintoff had no reason to be in seventh heaven – he scored nine. Ten balls later, he was caught by Agarkar. Powar broke the nine-run stand.

England scored 200 off 33.3 overs (214 balls). India had conceded 17 extras at that point. Ravi, whose 20-ball innings included a boundary, scored 17. Forty-two B(opar)alls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Patel, who broke the 35-run stand.

Bell’s half-century – which included half-a-dozen boundaries – came off 76 balls. He eventually scored 64. His 96-ball innings included half-a-dozen boundaries and a six. Twenty-two balls later, he was caught by Patel. Chawla broke the 20-run stand.

England scored 250 off 43.1 overs (274 balls). India had conceded 24 extras at that point. The eighth-wicket pair put on 50 off 36 balls. While Mascarenhas’ contribution to the partnership was 38, Broad’s contribution to the partnership was eight. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was four.

Mascarenhas, whose 39-ball innings included a boundary and five sixes, scored 52. Forty-three balls later, he was caught by Agarkar. Singh broke the 59-run partneRshiP. England scored 300 off 48.5 overs (309 balls). India had conceded 28 extras at that point. That was, incidentally, the number of extras they eventually conceded.

Broad, whose 24-ball innings included a couple of boundaries and as many sixes, scored 29. He was unbeaten, as was Tremlett, who faced a ball, failing to get off the mark. England, who scored 320 for the loss of eight wickets off 50 overs, lost by nine runs.

Ganguly, who bowled three overs, conceded 17. He was wicketless, as was Agarkar, who bowled nine overs, including a maiden. He conceded 47. R P and Powar bowled 10 overs each, picking up a wicket apiece. While the former conceded 56, the latter conceded 43.

Patel, who bowled eight overs, conceded 70. He picked up three scalps, as did Chawla, who bowled 10 overs, picking up 60.

India levelled the seven-match series 1-1.    

The Englishmen rout Dravid-led India

India made three changes to their playing (Pat)eleven – Robin Uthappa, Ramesh Powar and Munaf made way for Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan.

England made half-a-dozen changes to the (Micha)eleven that last played the Indians – Andrew Strauss, Yardy, Jamie Dalrymple, Chris Read, Sajid Mahmood and Steve Harmison made way for Alastair Cook, Matt Prior, Ravi Bopara, Dimitri Mascarenhas, Stuart Broad and Monty Panesar.

On winning the toss, Rahul Dravid, India’s skipper, inserted the Englishmen. The second Powerplay of their innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over. Prior, whose 31-ball innings included a six, scored 19. Sixty-five balls into the match, he was caught by Dravid. Zaheer Khan broke the 43-run stand.

England scored 50 off 13 overs. India had conceded three extras at that point. The third Powerplay of their innings was between the 16^th and the 20^th over. Sixteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. England had scored 66 for the loss of a wicket at that point. While Cook was batting on 35, Ian Bell, the player of the match, was batting on eight.

The second-wicket pair put on 50 off 64 balls. While Cook’s contribution to the partnership was 25, Bell’s contribution to it was 24. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a run. England scored 100 off 22.5 overs. India had conceded four extras at that point.

While Cook’s half-century – which included four boundaries – came off 74 balls, Bell’s half-century – which included five boundaries and a six – came off 54 balls. The second-wicket pair put on 100 off 113 balls. While Cook’s contribution to the partnership was 44, Bell’s contribution to it was 52. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was four.

England scored 150 off 30.3 overs. India had conceded seven extras at that point. Thirty-five overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. England had scored 180 for the loss of a wicket at that point. While Cook was batting on 83, Bell was batting on 71.

The second-wicket pair put on 150 off 161 balls. While Cook’s contribution to the partnership was 72, Bell’s contribution to it was 76. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was four. England scored 200 off 38.2 overs. India had conceded seven extras at that point.

Cook’s century – which included eight boundaries – came off 122 balls. He faced 126 balls, eventually scoring 102. A hundred and eighty-five balls later, R P Singh broke the 178-run partnership.

Bell’s century – which included eight boundaries and a six – came off as many balls. He eventually scored 126. His 118-ball innings included 10 boundaries and a six. He was unbeaten, as was Pietersen, who scored 33. His 25-ball (Kev)innings included three boundaries.

England scored 250 off 45.2 overs. India had conceded eight extras at that point. In fact, it was the number of extras they eventually conceded. The third-wicket pair put on 50 off 40 balls. While Bell’s contribution to the partnership was 21, Pietersen’s contribution to it was 29. Extras had no contribution to the partnership.

England conceded 288 for the loss of a couple of wickets off 50 overs. Tendulkar and Ganguly bowled four wicketless overs each. While the former conceded 29, the latter conceded 21. Yuvraj Singh, who bowled five wicketless overs, conceded 29. Piyush Chawla, who bowled seven wicketless overs, conceded 42.

Ajit Agarkar bowled 10 wicketless overs, including a maiden. He conceded 65. Both R P and Khan bowled 10 overs, conceding 49 each, picking up a wicket apiece. The latter’s spell including a maiden.

India’s openers put on 15. Ganguly, who faced half-a-dozen boundaries, scored a couple. Fifteen balls later, Prior and Panesar ran him out. Gautam Gambhir, who faced 14 balls, scored just three. Twenty-one balls later, he was caught by Prior. James Anderson broke the four-run stand.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over. Tendulkar, whose 33-ball innings included a boundary, scored 17. Thirty-one balls after Bopara’s dismissal, Anderson broke the 15-run stand.

The fourth-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Yuvraj, who faced four balls, didn’t open his account. Four balls later, he was caught by Cook off the bowling of Anderson.

Fifteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. England had scored 38 for the loss of four wickets at that point. While Dravid was in seventh heaven, Mahendra Singh Dhoni was batting on one. The third Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 16^th and the 20^th over.

India scored 50 off 18.3 overs. England had conceded 14 extras at that point. The fifth-wicket pair put on 95 off 64 balls. While Dravid’s contribution to the partnership was 29, Dhoni’s contribution to it was 15. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was nine.

India scored 100 off 29.3 overs. England had conceded 16 extras at that point. The man from Ranchi scoreD(ho)nineteen. His 60-ball innings included a boundary. A hundred and twelve balls later, he was caught by Prior. Andrew Flintoff broke the 68-run partnership.

Dinesh Karthik, whose 45-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 44. He was unbeaten. Dravid, who scored 72-ball innings included a couple of boundaries and a six, scored 46. Seven balls later, he was caught by Prior. Mascarenhas broke the three-run stand.

The seventh-wicket pair put on 24. Agarkar, whose 29-ball innings included a boundary, scored 11. Forty-three balls later, Paul Collingwood, England’s skipper, and Prior ran him out.

The eighth-wicket pair put on 16. Chawla, who faced 10 balls, scored just a couple. Twenty balls later, Mascarenhas and Panesar ran him out. India scored 150 off 43.4 overs. England had conceded 18 extras at that point.

Khan, whose 28-ball innings included a boundary and a couple of sixes, scored 20. Thirty-eight balls later, Anderson broke the run-a-ball stand. R P, who faced four balls, didn’t get off the mark. Nine balls later, Panesar broke the one-run stand.

England conceded 20 extras. India, who were dismissed for 184 off 50 overs, lost by 104 runs. Collingwood, who bowled five overs, conceded 37. He was wicketless, as was Broad, who bowled eight overs, including a maiden. He conceded 27.

Flintoff, who faced seven overs, conceded a dozen. He picked up a wicket. Panesar and Mascarenhas bowled 10 overs each, picking up a wicket apiece. While the former conceded 47, the latter, whose spell including a maiden, conceded 28. Anderson bowled 10 overs, including a couple of maidens. He conceded 23, picking up four scalps.

The Englishmen led the seven-match series 1-0.

Dravid-led India beat Scotland

Owing to rain, four overs of Scotland’s innings were lost, as a result of which the match was reduced to a 46-overs-a-side match. India made three changes to their playing (Pat)eleven – Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan made way for Robin Uthappa, Ramesh Powar and Munaf Patel.

This was the first – and, so far, only match – against Scotland. Rahul Dravid, who represented the Scots in 2003, was India’s skipper. On winning the toss, he inserted the hosts.

Navdeep Poonia had no reason to be in seventh heaven – he scored just a run. Twenty-six balls into the match, he was trapped leg before wicket by Ajit Agarkar, who broke the nine-run stand.

Fraser Watts, who faced 28 balls, scored half-a-dozen. Twenty-two balls later, he was caught by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. R P Singh broke the 13-run stand. The second Powerplay of Scotland’s innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over.

Ryan Watson, Scotland’s skipper, scored 24. His 32-ball innings included three boundaries. Half-a-dozen overs after Watts’ dismissal, he was caught by Piyush Chawla. Patel broke the 27-run stand.

Majid Haq, whose 18-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 11. The next ball, he was caught by Chawla off the bowling of R P. Eighty-six balls into the match, the drinks break was taken. Scotland had scored 49 for the loss of four wickets at that point. Neither Gavin Hamilton nor Neil McCallum had opened their accounts.

Scotland scored 50 off 14.4 overs. India had conceded eight extras at that point. The second Powerplay of Scotland’s innings was between the 16^th and the 18^th over.

Twenty-one overs into the match, there was an interruption owing to rain. Scotland had scored 68 for the loss of four wickets at that point. While Hamilton was batting on half-a-dozen, McCallum was batting on five.

The fifth-wicket pair put on 50 off 80 balls. While Hamilton’s contribution to the partnership was 20, McCallum’s contribution to it was 19. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was 11. Scotland scored 100 off 26.4 overs. India had conceded 18 extras at that point.

McCallum, whose 65-ball innings included three boundaries and a six, scored 41. A hundred and thirteen balls after Haq’s dismissal, he was caught by Dhoni. Chawla broke the 82-run partnership.

Colin Smith, who faced eight balls, scored four. His runs came by way of a boundary. Twenty balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Chawla, who broke the 15-run stand. Scotland scored 150 off 38 overs. India had conceded 25 extras at that point.

Two hundred and forty-four balls into the match, there was an interruption owing to rain. Scotland had scored 162 for the loss of six wickets at that point. While Hamilton was batting on 41, Craig Wright was batting on eight. Hamilton, whose 78-ball innings included three boundaries, eventually scored 44. Forty balls later, Agarkar broke the 32-run stand.

The eighth-wicket pair put on 20. Wright, whose 34-ball innings included a couple of boundaries and a six, eventually scored 37. Thirteen balls later, Agarkar and Dhoni ran him out. John Blain, who faced four balls, scored as many. He was unbeaten. Three balls later, he was caught by Chawla. Patel broke the one-run stand.

Scotland scored 200 off 45.5 overs. India had conceded 26 extras at that point. That was the number of extras they eventually conceded. Paul Hoffmann, who faced four balls, scored five. He was unbeaten, as was Dewald Nel, who didn’t face a ball. India scored 203 for the loss of nine wickets off 46 overs.

Powar, who bowled nine wicketless overs, conceded 41. Agarkar, Patel and R P bowled nine overs each, picking up a couple of wickets apiece. They conceded 54, 36 and 26, respectively. Chawla, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 42. He picked up a couple of scalps.

India’s target was revised to 209 off 46 overs. The second Powerplay of their innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over. India scored 50 off 11.5 overs. Scotland had conceded four extras at that point.

The Indian openers put on 50 off 73 balls. While Uthappa’s contribution to the partnership was 24, the contribution of Gautam Gambhir, the player of the match, was 22. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was four.

Uthappa’s half-century – which included seven boundaries and a six – came off 59 balls. He eventually scored 55. His 62-ball innings included eight boundaries and the six. India scored 100 off 20 overs. Scotland had conceded eight extras at that point.

India’s openers put on 100 off 126 balls. While Uthappa’s contribution to the partnership was 51, Gambhir’s contribution to it was 41. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was eight. A hundred and twenty-two balls into the chase, Wright broke the 104-run partnership.

Gambhir’s half-century – which included half-a-dozen boundaries – came off 76 balls. Dinesh Karthik, whose 26-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 14. Fifty-five balls later, he was caught by McCallum. Haq broke the 33-run stand. India scored 150 off 31.5 overs. Scotland had conceded eight extras at that point.

The third-wicket pair put on 50 off 44 balls. While Gambhir’s contribution to the partnership was 19, Yuvraj Singh’s contribution to it was 34. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a couple. Yuvraj, whose 28-ball innings included five boundaries and a six, eventually scored 38. Forty-nine balls later, Blain broke the 61-run stand.

Gambhir, whose 115-ball innings included eight boundaries and a six, eventually scored 85. He was unbeaten. Dravid, whose eight-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored unbea‘ten’. India scored 200 off 38.2 overs. Scotland had conceded 10 extras at that point.

Scotland eventually conceded 10 extras. India, who scored 212 for the loss of three wickets off 39.5 overs, won the one-off match by seven wickets with 37 balls to spare under the Duckworth-Lewis method. Nel, who bowled half-a-dozen overs, conceded 48. He was wicketless, as was Hoffmann, who bowled nine overs, conceding 43.

Haq, who bowled half-a-dozen overs, conceded 32. He picked up a wicket. Blain bowled 8.5 overs, including a couple of maidens. He conceded 41, picking up a wicket. Wright bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 46, picking up a wicket.

The IndianSAre certainly not D(rav)i(sappointe)d

Rain reduced the match to a 31-overs-a-side match. India made a couple of changes to their playing eleven – Ramesh Powar and Ishant Sharma made way for Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar. South Africa made a couple of changes to the eleven thaT(shabala)last played the Indians – Thandi and Charl Langeveldt made way for Justin Kemp and Dale Steyn.

On winning the toss, Rahul Dravid, India’s skipper, inserted the South Africans, whose innings was preceded by rain and a wet ground. Morne van Wyk, who faced five balls, didn’t get off the mark. Eleven balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Agarkar, who broke the six-run stand.

Jacques Kallis, South Africa’s skipper, faced half-a-dozen balls, failing to get off the mark. Eleven balls later, Agarkar broke the two-run stand. The second Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 11^th and the 12^th over.

AB de Villiers, whose 35-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 15. Fifty-two balls later, he was caught by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Sourav Ganguly broke the 20-run stand. The fourth-wicket pair didn’t get off the mark. Jean-Paul Duminy, who faced a ball, didn’t open his account. The next ball, he was trapped leg before wicket by Ganguly.

Fifteen overs into the match, the drinks break of South Africa’s innings was taken. They had scored 35 for the loss of four wickets at that point. While Herschelle Gibbs was batting on 16, Kemp was batting on three.

South Africa scored 50 off 18.1 overs. India had scored three extras at that point. The fifth-wicket pair put on 50 off 64 balls. While Gibbs’ contribution to the partnership was 25, Kemp’s contribution to it was 26. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was three. South Africa scored 100 off 25 overs. India had scored four extras at that point.

Gibbs’ half-century – which included a couple of boundaries and as many sixes – came off 60 balls. He eventually scored 56. His 67-ball innings included three boundaries and the sixes. Ninety-five balls later, Zaheer Khan broke the 99-run partnership.

Kemp’s half-century – which included five boundaries and a six – came off 55 balls. He eventually scored 61. His run-a-ball (Sach)innings included five boundaries and a couple of sixes. A dozen balls later, Tendulkar, the player of the series, broke the 17-run partnership.

Mark Boucher, whose nine-ball innings included a boundary, scored 11. He was unbeaten. Andrew Hall, who faced a couple of balls, scored a run. Four balls later, he was caught by Dinesh Karthik. Tendulkar broke the run-a-ball stand.

India eventually conceded four extras. South Africa scored 148 for the loss of seven wickets off 31 overs. Yuvraj Singh, the player of the match, bowled a couple of wicketless overs, conceding 17. Piyush Chawla, who bowled three wicketless overs, conceded 28. R P Singh bowled half-a-dozen wicketless overs, including a couple of maidens. He conceded 15.

Khan, who bowled seven overs, conceded 29. He picked up a wicket. Tendulkar, who bowled an over, conceded 10. He picked up a couple of wickets. Ganguly and Agarkar bowled half-a-dozen overs each, picking up a couple of wickets apiece. While the former conceded 24, the latter conceded 21.

Tendulkar, who faced eight balls, scored as many. His runs came by way of a boundary. A dozen balls later, he was caught by Boucher. Makhaya Ntini broke the 11-run stand. Gambhir, whose 11-ball innings included a boundary, scored five. Sixteen balls later, Steyn broke the nine-run stand.

Ganguly, whose 24-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 18. Twenty-five balls later, he was caught by Boucher. Nel broke the 18-run stand. Seenty-seven balls into the chase, the drinks break of India’s innings was taken. They had scored 43 for the loss of three wickets at that point. While Dravid was in seventh heaven, Yuvraj was batting on a run.

India scored 50 off 15.3 overs. South Africa had scored five extras at that point. The fourth-wicket pair put on 50 off 83 balls. While Dravid’s contribution to the partnership was 18, 

Yuvraj’s contribution to it was 28. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was half-a-dozen. India scored 100 off 22.4 overs. South Africa had scored eight extras at that point.

The fourth-wicket pair put on 70. Dravid, whose 49-ball innings included four boundaries, scored 36. Ninety-four balls later, Boucher ran him out.

Yuvraj’s half-century – which included five boundaries and a six – came off 78 balls. He eventually scored 61. His 82-ball innings included half-a-dozen boundaries and the six. He was unbeaten, as did Dhoni, who scored 14. His 11-ball innings included a couple of boundaries.

India scored 150 off 30.2 overs. South Africa had scored 10 extras at that point. In fact, that was the number of extras they eventually conceded. India, who scored 152 for the loss of four wickets off 30.2 overs, won by half-a-dozen wickets with four balls to spare.

Kemp, who bowled a couple of wicketless overs, conceded nine. Kallis, who bowled four wicketless overs, conceded 36. Hall, who bowled half-a-dozen wicketless overs, conceded 27.

Nel bowled 5.2 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 24, picking up a wicket. Steyn, who bowled half-a-dozen overs, conceded 35. He picked up a wicket. Ntini bowled seven overs, including two maidens. He conceded 18, picking up a wicket.

India won the three-match series 2-1.

Dravid-led India beat South Africa

India made a couple of changes to their playing eleven – Gautam Gambhir, the player of the match, and Rohit Sharma made way for Mahendra Singh Dhoni and One-day I(sha)nternational debutant Sharma. South Africa made one change to the eleven thaT(shabala)last played the Indians – Vernon Philander made way for Thandi.

On winning the toss, Rahul Dravid, India’s skipper, inserted the South Africans, whose openers put on just a couple. AB de Villiers, who faced half-a-dozen balls, D(rav)idn’t get off the mark. Nineteen balls later, R P Singh and the Wall ran him out. Jacques Kallis, South Africa’s skipper, faced half-a-dozen balls, scoring a couple. Thirteen balls later, R P broke the five-run stand.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over. Herschelle Gibbs, whose 28-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 17. Forty-nine balls later, he was caught by Dinesh Karthik. Zaheer Khan broke the 39-run stand.

The third Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 16^th and the 20^th over. South Africa scored 50 off 15.4 overs. India had conceded eight extras at that point.

Sixteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. South Africa had conceded 51 for the loss of three wickets at that point. While Morne van Wyk was batting on 21, Jean-Paul Duminy was batting on three.

The fourth-wicket pair put on 50 off 78 balls. While van Wyk’s contribution to the partnership was 27, Duminy’s contribution to it was 21. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a couple.

South Africa scored 100 off 27 overs. India had conceded nine extras at that point. Van Wyk’s half-century – which included five boundaries and a six – came off 87 balls.

Duminy, whose 59-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 40. A hundred and fourteen balls later, he was caught by Dravid. Yuvraj Singh broke the 85-run partnership. A hundred and ninety-five balls into the match, the second drinks break was taken. South Africa had conceded 131 for the loss of four wickets at that point. Van Wyk was batting on 60.

South Africa scored 150 off 36.5 overs. India had conceded a dozen extras at that point. Van Wyk, whose 126-ball innings included seven boundaries and a six, scored 82. Fifty-one balls later, he was caught by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. Yuvraj broke the 37-run stand.

South Africa scored 200 off 45.5 overs. India had conceded a dozen extras at that point. The sixth-wicket pair put on 50 off 43 balls. While Mark Boucher’s contribution to the partnership was 34, Andrew Hall’s contribution to it was 17. Extras did not contribute to the partnership.

Boucher, whose half-century – which included four boundaries and a six – came off as many balls. He eventually scored 55 off as many balls. He was unbeaten. Hall, whose 19-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 17. Forty-six balls later, Yuvraj broke the 52-run partnership. Andre Nel, who faced three balls, scored a run. He was unbeaten.

India conceded a dozen extras. South Africa scored 226 for the loss of half-a-dozen wickets off 50 overs. Sachin Tendulkar, the player of the match, bowled a wicketless over, conceding 10. Ishant, who bowled seven wicketless overs, conceded 38. Piyush Chawla, who bowled eight wicketless overs, conceded 41.

Ramesh Powar, who bowled 10 wicketless overs, conceded 46. R P bowled half-a-dozen overs, including a maiden. He conceded 21, picking up a wicket. Khan bowled nine overs, including a couple of maidens. He conceded 29, picking up a wicket. Yuvraj, who bowled nine overs, conceded 36. He picked up three scalps.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over. India scored 50 off 12.4 overs. South Africa had conceded an extra at that point. While Sourav Ganguly was batting on 19, Tendulkar was batting on 30.

Sixteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India had conceded 61 without the loss of a wicket at that point. While Ganguly was batting on 23, Tendulkar was batting on 37.

Tendulkar’s half-century – which included nine boundaries and a six – came off 64 balls. India scored 100 off 23 overs. South Africa had conceded three extras at that point. While Ganguly was batting on 29, Tendulkar was batting on 68.

Ganguly, whose 75-ball innings included three boundaries and a six, eventually scored 42. A hundred and sixty-nine balls La(ngeveld)ter, he was caught by Gibbs. Charl broke the 134-run partnership. Dravid, who faced 10 balls, scored a couple. Seventeen balls later, he was caught by Langeveldt, who broke the six-run stand.

Thirty-one overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. India had conceded 140 for the loss of a couple of wickets at that point. Tendulkar eventually scored 93. His 106-ball innings included 13 boundaries and a couple of sixes. Five dot balls later, he was dismissed by Tshabalala.

Dhoni, who faced four balls, didn’t get off the mark. Five balls later, Makhaya Ntini broke the two-run stand. India scored 150 off 35.2 overs. South Africa had conceded four extras at that point.

The fifth-wicket pair put on 50 off 74 balls. While Yuvraj’s contribution to the partnership was 22, Karthik’s contribution to it was 24. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was five. India scored 200 off 45.5 overs. South Africa had conceded nine extras at that point.

Yuvraj, whose 63-ball innings included four boundaries and a six, eventually scored 49. He was unbeaten, as was Karthik, who eventually scored 32. His 37-ball innings included a boundary.

South Africa eventually conceded nine extras. India, who scored 227 for the loss of four wickets off 49.1 overs, won by half-a-dozen wickets with five balls to spare. Kallis, who bowled 1.1 overs, conceded eight. He was wicketless. Hall and Nel bowled 10 wicketless overs apiece. While the former conceded 54, the latter conceded 41.

Tshabalala bowled eight overs, including a maiden. He conceded 42, picking up a wicket. Ntini bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 37, picking up a wicket. Langeveldt bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 43, picking up a couple of scalps.  

The three-match series was levelled 1-1.

It’SAnother loss for Dravid-led India

India made a couple of changes to their playing eleven – Ajit Agarkar and Sreesanth made way for Ramesh Powar and Zaheer Khan. South Africa made five changes to the eleven that last played the Indians – Graeme Smith, Shaun Pollock, Ashwell Prince, Justin Kemp and Robin Peterson made way for Morne van Wyk, Jean-Paul Duminy, Andrew Hall, Vernon Philander and Charl Langeveldt.

On winning the toss, Jacques Kallis, South Africa’s skipper and the player of the match, inserted the Indians. Sourav Ganguly, whose 22-ball innings included a boundary, scored 13. Forty-four balls later, he was caught by Mark Boucher. Andre Nel broke the 24-run stand.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over. Gautam Gambhir had a reason to be in seventh heaven – he didn’t get off the mark. Twenty-one balls later, he was caught by Kallis. Nel broke the 12-run stand.

India scored 50 off 15 overs. South Africa had scored half-a-dozen extras at that point. Sixteen overs into the match, the first drinks break was taken. India had scored 56 for a couple of wickets at that point. While Sachin Tendulkar was batting on 34, Rahul Dravid, India’s skipper, was batting on three.

The third Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 16^th and the 20^th over. The third-wicket pair put on 50 off 82 balls. While Tendulkar’s contribution to the partnership was 27, Dravid’s contribution to it was 21. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was a couple.
Tendulkar’s half-century – which included half-a-d0zen boundaries – came off 95 balls.

India scored 100 off 28.3 overs. South Africa had scored eight extras at that point. Thirty-two overs into the match, the second drinks break was taken. India had scored 121 for a couple of wickets at that point. While Tendulkar was batting on 64, Dravid was batting on 35.

The third-wicket pair put on 100 off 150 balls. While Tendulkar’s contribution to the partnership was 51, Dravid’s contribution to it was 46. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was four. Dravid’s half-century – which included three boundaries – came off 71 balls.

India scored 150 off 37.1 overs. South Africa had scored nine extras at that point. The third-wicket pair put on 150 off 182 balls. Both Tendulkar’s and Dravid’s contributions to the partnership were 72. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was half-a-dozen.

Dravid, whose 93-ball innings included half-a-dozen boundaries, scored 74. A hundred and ninety-three balls later, Andre Nel broke the 158-run partnership. India scored 200 off 44.2 overs. South Africa had conceded a dozen extras at that point.

The fourth-wicket pair put on 17. Tendulkar, whose 143-ball innings included a dozen boundaries, scored 99. Thirteen balls later, van Wyk and Boucher ran him out. Yuvraj Singh whose 12-ball innings included a boundary, scored 13. Four balls later, he was caught by Kallis. Hall broke the two-run stand.

Dinesh Karthik, whose 10-ball innings included a couple of boundaries and the only six of the innings, scored 19. Fourteen balls later, Hall broke the 21-run stand. Rohit Sharma, who faced nine balls, scored eight. Five balls later, Kallis broke the six-run stand.

Piyush Chawla, who faced a couple of balls, scored as many. He was unbeaten. Powar, who faced three balls, scored a run. Four balls after Sharma’s dismissal, he was caught by A B de Villiers. Kallis broke the two-run stand.

South Africa eventually conceded 13 extras. India scored 242 for the loss of eight wickets off 50 overs. Langeveldt, who bowled eight wicketless overs, conceded 59. Philander bowled eight wicketless overs, including a couple of maidens. He conceded 37. Ntini bowled 10 wicketless overs, including a couple of M(akhay)aidens. He conceded 33.

Kallis, who bowled four overs, conceded 20. He picked up a couple of wickets, as did Hall, who bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 40. Nel bowled 10 overs, including a maiden. He conceded 47, picking up three wickets.

The second Powerplay of South Africa’s innings was between the 11^th and the 15^th over. South Africa scored 50 off 12 overs. India had scored five extras at that point. Their openers put on 50 off 76 balls. While de Villiers’ contribution to the partnership was 22, van Wyk’s contribution to it was 23.

De Villiers, whose 37-ball innings included three boundaries, scored 24. Seventy-seven balls into the chase, he was caught by Karthik. R P broke the 56-run partnership.

The third Powerplay of South Africa’s innings was between the 16^th and the 20^th over. Sixteen overs into the chase, the first drinks break was taken. South Africa had scored 79 for a wicket at that point. While van Wyk was batting on 34, Kallis was batting on 14.

Van Wyk, whose 55-ball innings included half-a-dozen boundaries, scored 44. Forty-two balls later, he was caught by Sharma. Chawla broke the 43-run stand. South Africa scored 100 off 20.1 overs. As far as the number of extras was concerned, India was in seventh heaven.

Herschelle, whose seven-ball inninG(ibb)s included a boundary, scored five. Eight balls later, Chawla broke the run-a-ball stand. Duminy, whose 15-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 11. Twenty-two balls later, he was caught by Tendulkar. Powar broke the 17-run stand.

South Africa scored 150 off 30 overs. India had conceded nine extras at that point. Boucher, whose 30-ball innings included a boundary, scored 23. Fifty-eight balls later, he was trapped leg before wicket by Khan, who broke the 41-run stand.

A hundred and five balls into the chase, the drinks break was taken. South Africa had scored 165 for five wickets at that point. Kallis was batting on 49. His half-century – which included three boundaries – came off 65 balls.

Hall, whose 15-ball innings included two boundaries, scored 16. Thirty-one balls later, he was caught by Dravid. Chawla broke the 25-run stand. South Africa scored 200 off 41.2 overs. India had conceded 10 extras at that point.

The seventh-wicket pair put on 50 off 60 balls. While Kallis’ contribution to the partnership was 32, Philander’s contribution to the partnership was 13. Extras’ contribution to the partnership was five.

Kallis, whose 116-ball innings included half-a-dozen boundaries, scored 91. He was unbeaten, as was Philander, who scored 17. His 22-ball innings included a boundary. India conceded 14 extras. South Africa, who scored 245 for the loss of half-a-dozen wickets off 49.3 overs, won by four wickets with three balls to spare.

Sharma bowled a wicketless over, conceding three. Ganguly bowled four wicketless overs, conceding 26. Yuvraj bowled 6.3 wicketless overs, conceding 35. R P bowled eight overs, conceding 45. He picked up a wicket.

Khan and Powar bowled 10 overs each, picking up a wicket apiece. While the former, whose spell included a maiden, conceded 46, the latter conceded 39. Chawla, who bowled 10 overs, conceded 47. He picked up three scalps.

South Africa led the three-match series 1-0.  

India leave the Irish D(rav)i(sheartene)d

India made five changes to their playing (Pat)eleven – Virender Sehwag, Robin Uthappa, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Ramesh Powar and Munaf made way for Sourav Ganguly, the three Mumbaikars (Sachin Tendulkar, One-day International debutant Rohit Sharma and Ajit Agarkar) and Sreesanth.

While Ireland was playing the Indians for the first time, three members of their playing eleven – Gary Wilson, Thinus Fourie and Roger Whelan – were making their One-day International debuts.

On winning the toss, Rahul Dravid, India’s skipper, inserted the Irish. Kenny Carroll, who faced 14 balls, had no reason to be in seventh heaven – 25 balls into the match, he was caught by Dinesh Karthik. Sreesanth broke the 14-run stand.

The second Powerplay of Ireland’s innings was between the 11^th and 15^th over. Dominick Joyce, whose (Sreesan)thirty-four-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 18. Fifty-eight balls later, he was caught by Ganguly. The Kerala pacer broke the 33-run stand.

Ireland scored 50 off 14.4 overs. India had conceded a dozen extras at that point. The third Powerplay of Ireland’s innings was between the 16^th and 20^th over. William Porterfield, whose 46-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 16. Fifteen balls later, Ajit Agarkar broke the nine-run stand.

Wilson, whose 24-ball innings included a couple of boundaries, scored 13. Forty-seven balls (Chaw)later, Piyush broke the 19-run stand. Kevin O’Brien, who faced 11 balls, scored three. Fourteen balls later, he was caught by R P Singh. Chawla broke the eight-run stand.

Thirty-one overs into the match, the drinks break was taken. Ireland had scored 98 for the loss of five wickets at that point. While Niall O’Brien, Kevin’s older brother, was batting on 19, Andrew White was batting on half-a-dozen. Ireland scored 100 off 31 overs. India had conceded 18 extras at that point.

White, who faced 28 balls, eventually scored eight. Forty-eight balls later, he was caught by Karthik. Chawla broke the 28-run stand. Ireland scored 150 off 31 overs. India had conceded 26 extras at that point.

Niall’s half-century – which included four boundaries – came off 78 balls. He faced 79 balls, eventually scoring 52. Sixty-one balls later, he was caught by Sharma. R P broke the 48-run stand.

Kyle McCallan had no reason to be in seventh heaven – he scored just four. A dozen balls later, R P broke the nine-run stand. Trent Johnston, Ireland’s skipper, scored 34. His 44-ball innings included a boundary and a couple of sixes. Fourteen balls later, he was caught by Yuvraj Singh. Sreesanth broke the 19-run stand.

Fourie, who faced nine balls, scored four. He was unbeaten. Whelan, whose run-a-ball innings included a boundary, scored five. An over later, he was stumped by Karthik. Tendulkar broke the six-run stand.

India eventually conceded 29 extras. Ireland were dismissed for 193 off 50 overs. Ganguly bowled half-a-dozen wicketless overs, including a maiden. He conceded 15. Tendulkar, who bowled four overs, conceded 15. He picked up a wicket, as did Agarkar, who bowled 10 overs, including a couple of maidens. He conceded 27.

R P bowled 10 overs, including a couple of maidens. He conceded 36, picking up a couple of scalps. Sreesanth and Chawla bowled 10 overs each, picking up three scalps apiece. While the former conceded 50, the latter, whose spell including a couple of maidens, conceded 29.

The chase was preceded by rain. Hence, India’s target was revised to 171 off 39 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis method. Tendulkar, who faced three balls, scored four. His runs came by way of a boundary. An over into the chase, Whelan broke the nine-run stand.

The second Powerplay of India’s innings was between the 11^th and 15^th over. They scored 50 off 10.4 overs. Ireland had conceded half-a-dozen extras at that point.

The second-wicket pair put on 50 off 71 balls. While Ganguly’s contribution to the partnership was 24, the contribution of Gautam Gambhir, the player of the match, to it was 25. Extras’ contribution to it was a couple.

Nineteen overs into the match, the drinks break was taken. Ireland had scored 88 for the loss of a wicket at that point. While Ganguly was batting on 34, Gambhir was batting on 42. India scored 100 off 22.4 overs. India had conceded nine extras at that point.

Gambhir’s half-century – which included half-a-dozen boundaries – came off 72 balls. The second-wicket pair put on 100 off 145 balls. While Ganguly’s contribution to the partnership was 41, Gambhir’s contribution to it was 53. Extras’ contribution to it was half-a-dozen. Gambhir’s half-century – which included five boundaries – came off 79 balls.

India scored 150 off 31.4 overs. India had conceded 12 extras at that point. The second-wicket pair put on 150 off 196 balls. While Ganguly’s contribution to the partnership was 65, Gambhir’s contribution to it was 77. Extras’ contribution to it was eight.

Ganguly, whose 99-ball innings included half-a-dozen boundaries and the only six of the innings, scored 73. He was unbeaten, as was Gambhir, who scored 80. His 107-ball innings included nine boundaries.

Ireland conceded 14 extras. India, who scored 171 for the loss of one wicket off 34.5 overs, won by nine wickets with 25 balls to spare under the Duckworth-Lewis method. White, who bowled a wicketless over, conceded five. Kevin, who bowled four wicketless overs, conceded 25.

Fourie, who bowled 6.5 wicketless overs, conceded 21. Johnston, who bowled seven wicketless overs, conceded 25. McCallan, who bowled eight wicketless overs, conceded 32. Whelan, who bowled eight overs, conceded 56. He picked up a wicket.

India won the one-off match.