Friday, August 12, 2011

Cook powers England to 422-run lead over India

Birmingham, Aug 12 (IANS) Alastair Cook stood rock solid to reach 266 as England took a massive 422 runs lead at tea on the third day of the third cricket Test against India here Friday.
India got the wickets of Eoin Morgan (104), Ravi Bopara (7) and Matt Prior (5) in the second session after going wicketless at lunch. But England reached 646/6 with Cook looking set for a triple century

Suresh Raina had Morgan caught at cover, breaking the 222-run partnership between Cook and Morgan.

Leg spinner Amit Mishra then trapped Bopara leg before and dismissed Prior, who top edged a slog sweep and was well caught by Sachin Tendulkar.

Cook, however, batted with resolve and surpassed his best of 235 that he scored against Australia in the Ashes last year. His marathon 518-ball innings had 29 fours.

Morgan scored his second Test century after the 130 against Pakistan last year. He played 199 balls and struck 11 fours.

Earlier, India went wicketless in the morning session and looked listless on the ground, though Praveen Kumar again bowled with a big heart and got good purchase from the conditions. Praveen bowled six overs giving only 12 runs.

Resuming at 456/3 and 232 runs ahead of India, England added 47 runs in 18 overs after a delayed start and early finish to the first session due to rain.

Cook got to his double century, his second of the career, with a clip of his leg off S. Sreesanth.

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