NAGPUR, March 3: England seamer Matthew Hoggard said his five-wicket haul in the first Test against India was one of the best displays of his career.

Hoggard captured five for 57, including three in the space of 11 deliveries, to rip open the formidable Indian top order.

“It is one of the best spells I have bowled,” Hoggard said. “To bowl 30 overs and get five for 57 is consistent.”

The 29-year-old Yorkshireman had India on the ropes before they recovered to 322 for nine at the close of the third day following Mohammad Kaif’s patient 91.

England are 71 runs ahead on the first innings which could prove crucial on a slow pitch.

“If we’d been told at the start of the day they will be 70 behind, nine down, we would have taken that,” Hoggard told reporters.

“We worked hard to get patience into practice, get as many balls into the right areas as possible, dry the runs and build some pressure.

“We did that quite well with the ball reverse-swinging so we picked up some good wickets.”

He said victory hopes now rested on the England batsmen.

Hoggard praised debutant left-arm spinner Monty Panesar who took two for 72 while bowling a marathon 41.4 overs.

Panesar had helped Paul Collingwood (134 not out) smash his maiden test hundred to rally England the previous day with a last wicket partnership of 66 runs.

Panesar, the first Sikh player to represent the full England side, nailed Sachin Tendulkar leg before as his first Test victim and then bowled Kaif off the day’s final delivery.

“Everybody is out to get Tendulkar, to get him as your first Test victim is something special. Monty has bowled like he has bowled in Test cricket for the last 10 years.”

Former England captain Nasser Hussain was delighted.

“It is one of the great moments in sport,” he said. “I mean, first wicket, Sachin Tendulkar. He is chuffed a bit,” Nasser said in his TV commentary.—Agencies