CHELMSFORD (England), Aug 18: India turned the final day of their tour match against Essex here Saturday into a practice session for the third Test against England.
Ahead of renewing hostilities with Nasser Hussain’s side at Headingley on Thursday, India captain Saurav Ganguly saw his team have the better of a draw against the England skipper’s county.
That result seemed the most likely outcome after India, resuming on 231 for two, batted for a further 28 overs Saturday before Ganguly declared on 327 for six.
That left Essex needing a huge 565 for victory. Second time around they did not collapse against the off-spin of Harbhajan Singh (seven for 83 in the first innings) making 186 for three after 56 overs before Ganguly and Essex captain Ronnie Irani decided enough was enough.
INDIA (1st Innings) 516 (S.S. Das 250, S.C. Ganguly 74; J. Middlebrook 4-164).
ESSEX (1st Innings) 279 (D.D.J. Robinson 59, A. Flower 59; Harbhajan Singh 7-83).
INDIA (2nd Innings):
S.B. Bangar lbw b Ilott 74
P.A. Patel c Phillips b Ilott 1
V. Sehwag c and b Bopara 142
V.V.S. Laxman c and b Phillips 42
W. Jaffer lbw b Ilott 4
A. Ratra not out 17
S.C. Ganguly c and b Ilott 6
Harbhajan Singh not out 29
EXTRAS (LB-7, W-3, NB-2) 12
TOTAL (for six decl, 88 overs) 327
FALL OF WKTS: 1-8, 2-217, 3-237, 4-241, 5-280, 6-296.
BOWLING: Grant 20-8-46-0; Ilott 17-3-67-4; Dakin 16-3-54-0; Bopara 8-0-43-1; Phillips 18-3-62-1; Middlebrook 9-1-48-0.
ESSEX (2nd Innings):
R. Clinton c Jaffer b Sehwag 53
J. Middlebrook c Das b Harbhajan 24
A. Flower retired hurt 23
R. Bopara not out 47
J. Dakin c Ratra b Sehwag 6
B. Hyam not out 16
EXTRAS (B-5, LB-5, W-1, NB-6) 17
TOTAL (for three wkts, 56 overs) 186
FALL OF WKTS: 1-46, 2-97, 3-137.
BOWLING: Yohannan 12-3-41-0; Bangar 9-3-27-0; Harbhajan Singh 8-2-23-1; Sehwag 18-6-52-2; Wasim Jaffer 4-0-14-0; Das 2-0-8-0; Patel 3-0-9-0.
RESULT: Match drawn.—AFP/Reuters