Gambhir ton puts hosts in command

Dec 19 2008

England's new-look attack failed to build on a promising start with Gautam Gambhir's fourth century guiding India into a commanding position in the final Test.

The 27-year-old left-hander completed his century shortly before bad light ended play midway through the final session of the opening day, having played a lead role in an unbroken 173-run partnership with Rahul Dravid which guided India to a powerful 179 for one.

Gambhir enjoyed one reprieve on 70 when he was dropped by Paul Collingwood at full stretch at slip after edging off-spinner Graeme Swann, but otherwise England struggled to trouble him after the early stages of the day.

He hit 11 fours and a six and with Dravid claiming his first half-century in nine Test innings, it completed another tough day in the field for the tourists just four days after the disappointment of losing the opening Test in Chennai.

England had been given a flying start after play began 20 minutes late for bad light, with Stuart Broad marking his recall by dismissing dangerous opener Virender Sehwag with his sixth ball of the match.

Chosen as a replacement for Steve Harmison, who was dropped for the second time this year, Broad's recall was vindicated in only the second over of the match when he seamed the ball away from Sehwag and induced an edge behind.

But despite an impressive new-ball spell from Broad, England struggled to build on that success as Gambhir and Dravid exploited a flat batting wicket and undermined the tourists' hopes of levelling the series.

Gambhir was the more positive of the pair before lunch, but after the interval the roles were reversed with Dravid suddenly finding his touch to hit three boundaries inside the first four overs after the break.

Dravid followed Gambhir to his half-century in the final over before tea when he clipped all-rounder Andrew Flintoff through mid-wicket for two to underline India's dominance.

Their stand was almost broken as Gambhir approached his hundred, calling Dravid for the single only to send him scurrying back to the non-striker's end which he reached just before Kevin Pietersen's direct hit from mid-off. He reached the landmark in the next over, clipping James Anderson off his legs for two, but just five overs later bad light halted play.