Mumbai: Indian were on the brink of losing their defeat in the second Test match against England as they lost seven for 117 runs in their second innings against England at the Wankhede Stadium here today.
England who are a match down in the four match Test series rode on skipper Alastair Cook (122) and Kevin Pietersen (186) to score 413 in their first innings in reply to hosts 327.
India after conceding a 86 runs lead in the first innings never looked comfortable against never looked against the England spinners.
The famed Indian batting line-up collapsed like nine pins with Virender Sehwag (9), Cheteshwar Pujara (6), Sachin Tendulkar (8), Virat Kohli (7), Yuvraj Singh (8) captain M S Dhoni (6) and R Ashwin (11) back in the hut.
India are now 31 runs ahead with Gautam Gambhir (53) and Harbhajan Singh (1) were the unbeaten batsmen.
Monty Panesar who took five wickets in the first innings was again the tormenter-in-chief with one more five wicket haul.
Earlier starting the day at the overnight score of 178-2, Cook and Pietersen took the attack to the Indian bowlers right from the word go. Cook who notched up his second successive century played the role of an anchor, while Pietersen was at his attacking best.
He never allowed the spinners to settle down and scored at a fluent pace.
Cook was the first batsman to get out this morning but not before stitching a record 206-run partnership for the third wicket. He hit 13 boundaries and a six in his 270-ball innings.
Pietersen carried on the good work but then once he was out after his 233-ball innings which was laced with 20 boundaries and four sixes, England’s innings collapsed. The lost their last four for just seven runs.
Pragyan Ojha was the pick of the bowlers for India with figures of 5-143. This was his second consecutive five wickets haul.
India 327 and 117 for 7 (Gambhir 53*, Panesar 5-61) lead England 413 (Pietersen 186, Cook 122, Ojha 5-143) by 31 runs
By Indian Sports News Network