Cricket: England put heat on India

Openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook provided a sound start to England's second innings in the first test against India overnight.

Strauss made 46 and Cook was 43 not out, with England 116-2 after 40 overs on the fourth day, after they had gained a 70-run lead in the first innings by claiming the home side's last wicket for the addition of just one run.

Resuming at 322-9, India's last pair lasted just seven balls before Shantakumaran Sreesanth fell leg before to paceman Matthew Hoggard for one.

Hoggard finished with 6-57, his best return in eight tests against India. England had posted 393 in their first innings.

Strauss and Cook continued the impressive showing from the first innings, putting on their second half-century stand of the test.

The partnership was eventually broken at 95, when Strauss was caught by Mahendra Dhoni off the bowling of Irfan Pathan. Ian Bell lasted only two balls before Dhoni and Pathan combined again.

Hoggard had earlier led a fine bowling effort to reduce India to 322-9 at stumps on the third day.

Hoggard struck three telling blows in an 11-ball spell in the morning to claim 5-57, his sixth five-wicket innings haul, and reduce India to 190-7.

Mohammad Kaif (91) led a superb fightback in a 128-run eighth-wicket partnership with Anil Kumble (58) before England's bowlers dismissed both batsmen in successive overs.

Debutant left-arm spinner Monty Panesar claimed his second wicket by bowling Kaif to end his gritty six-hour knock, leaving India still 71 runs behind.

Bowling with pace and pinpoint accuracy, Hoggard produced reverse swing to great effect, his morning spell earning three wickets for six runs in six overs.

He dismissed opening batsman Wasim Jaffer (81) and captain Rahul Dravid (40) to end their 129-run second-wicket partnership, then scalped Vangipurappu Laxman for a first ball duck.

Panesar claimed his first test wicket, the prized scalp of Sachin Tendulkar for 16.

- REUTERS