Dravid stands firm as Webheads fight for advantage
Day 3 - Cricket Web XI v India at PDV Dome
Rahul Dravid struck up a brilliant rearguard to deny Cricket Web XI the spoils on a crucial third day. The former captain scored 137 not out as both teams wrestled for control of the match. Virender Sehwag (37) was dropped at slip by Mamesh early on, but CW XI did not have to wait long for the first wicket. In the third over of the day Nick Borcich searched the edge of the opener's bat and he was caught handily by Dauth in the gully.
Dravid plays a square drive in a fantastic rearguard. (c) Cricinfo
The breakthrough spurred Borcich on into a fantastic spell of fast bowling. He beat Dravid's defensive prod twice before he had Jaffer dropped in the slips on 23. But the miss could hardly prove less costly. Just 2 balls later Borcich ripped the ball back at Jaffer off the seam, trapping him lbw for the same score. At 70-2 CW XI were back on top, leading by 592 runs. But in Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid there was the ideal pairing for a revival. They moved serenely into the second session and both passed 50. Neil Pickup was progressively frustrated, but continued to plug away with his legbreaks. And from nowhere he picked up Tendulkar for 75. Attempting to cut a quicker ball, Tendulkar edged low to Mamesh at slip and the batting hero took a fine catch to complete the dismissal.
Enter VVS Laxman, and exit the ball, sailing out the ground over midwicket for six. Pickup was given a replacement ball, but dropped short again and was hammered to midwicket for four more. But the early promise of Laxman was false, lbw to Demeza for 22. At tea India had slipped behind, trailing by 406 with 6 wickets in hand. The final session was another exercise in the fightback. Sourav Ganguly ******ed Dravid to a century - the fourth of the game - and eased into stride with some fine shots through the covers. But even such a strength turned weakness, when an uppish drive was dropped by Young at cover point. It was the last bit of drama of the day, and India closed on 350-4, still 113 short of the follow-on target.
Cricket Web XI 1st innings 662-3 dec. (194.2 overs)
T Mamesh 223, PE Young 189, AP Cloete 109*, H Mørk 108
A Kumble 2-153
India 1st innings 350-4 (99 overs)
R Dravid 137*, SR Tendulkar 75, SC Ganguly 39*
NA Borcich 2-78
India trail by 312 runs on first innings, with 6 wickets in hand.
Pickup and Collins shift the balance
Day 4 - Cricket Web XI v India at PDV Dome
A captain's peformance from Neil Pickup forced India to follow on, and Cricket Web XI dominated the fourth day at the Dome. The legspinner boasted an understanding of the batsman-friendly conditions and plugged away defensively until the Indian batsmen played into his hands. He started with the wicket of Dravid before the batsman had added to his overnight total, and went on to complete a 5-wicket haul.
Only Sourav Ganguly stood up the challenge, though he only added 28 to his overnight score before he fatally padded up on 67. The threat of MS Dhoni was wiped out by a Borcich bouncer and a miscued hook shot, so Irfan Pathan (dropped on 5) was the lone hope of the tourists to avoid a crucial follow-on. The allrounder started well after lunch with a booming cover drive for four, but only had 24 when he cut Demeza into the lap of gully. India still managed to close in the on the target with a 21-run stand for the 9th wicket, then Pickup dealt for his opposite number for 24. The next ball he used the perfect googly to trap Zaheer Khan in front of his stumps, and India followed on while trailing by 203.
Ganguly trudges off after falling for 67. (c) BBC
For the second time in the match India's openers had to face a mini-session of bowling, and again they survived with few worries. Jaffer and Sehwag batted 12 overs unbroken until tea. In the last session they extended their partnership to 65 with Sehwag dropped on 46, and looking ominous. And even as Sehwag was caught at midwicket for 51, Dravid picked up from his first innings heroics and he and Jaffer put on 73 for the second wicket.
To that point Adam Collins had bowled 27 wicketless overs for 92 runs. He picked his moment expertly and went around the wicket to peg back Dravid, lbw for 27. Collins continued around the wicket and procured a leading edge by Jaffer (55), then he snapped up a low catch to his right. VVS Laxman took guard with history on his side, but could not match his past follow-on heroics and dragged his first ball back onto his middle stump. India had slumped to 139-4, and even with 10 balls remaining in the day, Ganguly joined Tendulkar ahead of a nightwatchman. He managed to nick the ball through the slips for a boundary, so India closed with the deficit reduced to 60.
Cricket Web XI 1st innings 662-3 dec. (194.2 overs)
T Mamesh 223, PE Young 189, AP Cloete 109*, H Mørk 108
A Kumble 2-153
India 1st innings 459 ao (144.4 overs)
R Dravid 137, SR Tendulkar 75, SC Ganguly 67
NS Pickup 5-94, NA Borcich 3-99
India 2nd innings (f/o) 143-4 (43 overs)
W Jaffers 55, V Sehwag 51, SC Ganguly 4*, SR Tendulkar 0*
AAA Collins 3-33
Following on, India trail by 60 runs on first innings, with 6 wickets in hand.
