India Vs England 2nd Test, India wins two match series

by Sanjay Jha | December 23, 2008 at 03:21 am

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In a truncated match due to heavy fog Indian side managed to draw the second Test in Mohali, but that did not stop India from winning their second consecutive Test series. With their sensational 6-wicket win in Chennai, India clinched the two-Test series 1-0 against England on Tuesday.

India had beaten Australia 2-0 in the recently concluded four-match Test series. But despite their back-to-back series win, India remain number three in the ICC Test rankings as only a 2-0 win would have seen them overtake South Africa at the number two position.

England were forced to settle for a draw after India chose to bat deep into day five of the second Test in Mohali.

Following another fog-delayed start, the hosts resumed on 134-4 and added 117 before declaring on 251-7 midway through the afternoon session.

Yuvraj Singh cracked an eye-catching 86 and Gautam Gambhir a patient 97 as the pair put on 153 for the fifth wicket.

England lost Alastair Cook but Andrew Strauss and Ian Bell had guided them to 64-1 when the captains shook hands.

It was a disappointingly flat end to a otherwise thoroughly exciting series, from which both sides will take plenty of positives.

England's return to India after the Mumbai attacks was hailed the world over and, on the whole, they performed admirably given their lack of preparation.

India, meanwhile, continued to display the sort of form that saw them beat Australia, and lived up to their billing as Test cricket's in-form team.

It was unfortunate that Mahendra Dhoni's men did not push on for the win after taking a 151-run lead into their second innings but, with the the start of play significantly delayed for a third successive day, a draw was always the most likely result.

The players and umpires eventually came to the middle at 0600 GMT, two-and-a-half hours late, and when play got under way India resumed in cautious fashion.