By Denzil Fernandes
Daijiworld Media Network
Oval, Aug 20: Despite a truncated third day’s play on the third day due to rain, England’s march towards another Test win has gone as planned. Thanks to the generosity of the Indian batsmen, England skipper Strauss will have a lovely night planning to dismantle the remaining wickets and then go for the final ‘kill’ to sweep the series and take a historic 4-0 series win.
When play ended on day three, India skipper Dhoni was giving company to the one and only Indian batsman to shine in the entire series, Dravid, who was there with an unbeaten 65 runs that had 5 fours firmly hit. This was Dravid’s 61st Test fifty. Dravid has been the only shining light for India in the entire series with 2 centuries and consistent batting throughout.
India, replying to England’s total of 591 runs off 6 wickets had lost 5 wickets and had managed a paltry 110 runs only. With no other major batsmen left and with Gambhir once again down with head concussion India will be hard pressed to prolong the first innings on the fourth day. This is possible only if overnight batsmen Dravid (57) and Dhoni (5) stay at the crease for the full day at least and deprive the England bowlers any further success. India trail by 488 runs and only a miracle in the form of non stop rain can save India from certain defeat.
Almost all the England bowlers are desperate to pick wickets and there is no one more dangerous than Swann who has already picked up 3 wickets off 27 runs in 10 overs including that of Tendulkar (23). At one stage, when Dravid and Tendulkar were batting there were hopes of an Indian fightback with the pair contributing 55 runs in their partnership. Tendulkar has been distinctly unlucky to get out more than once in the series after getting set with such a flow of runs. The Mumbai man has to wait for some more time to accomplish his 100th century.
No other batsmen from India could hold fort and once again there was the now familiar procession back to the pavilion.
For England, Bell went on to record his maiden double century with a well struck 235 runs in 364 balls that contained 23 fours and 2 sixes. Ravi Bopara too chipped in with an unbeaten 44 runs late in the evenings. England seemed in a hurry to pile up the runs to ensure a quick declaration and were ready to sacrifice the wickets in the process.
Everything has fallen according to plan for skipper Strauss and very soon there will be another round of celebrations to mark the clean sweep. In fact, all former captains of England have also been invited to join the party on the final day of the Oval Test in what promises to be a fantastic summer of victorious cricket for England.
Quite fittingly, England have deserved to reach the top of the Test World rankings and there is every indication that they will remain there for some time to come. With their range of players who are peaking and performing creditably for their team, there is no chance that England will be in any mood to relinquish their top position.
As day four starts, England will hope that there is no more rain to disrupt their progress. They will aim to force the follow on if the Indians get out by lunch and then go for the inevitable ‘kill’. However, they have to get rid of Dravid and Dhoni in the morning. The task will not be that easy since both of them are in good form and one should not be surprised if these two Indian batsmen give a taste of their batting talent by remaining unbeaten at least till the end of the day.
Surely, an absorbing day’s play is assured on the fourth day with England desperate to force victory. Victory may come in the end, but it is upto Dravid and Dhoni to delay the results. With probable rain also forecast, there is an outside chance that the Indians may escape defeat by the skin of their teeth. If there is no rain, it will be England’s gain which will go a long way in the complete whitewash of Team India.