Ganguly shines on wet day

England vs India: 2nd Test: Day 2 Trent Bridge, England Report status: Stumps

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Incessant showers permitted only 25 overs to be bowled on the second day at Trent Bridge, as India crossed the 300-run mark despite losing three quick wickets after England skipper Nasser Hussain took the second new ball.

India skipper Sourav Ganguly played a classy knock, with sumptuous drives and pulls, before he was dubiously given out towards the fag end of the day.

When stumps were drawn, India were 302 for 8, with Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh at the crease.

Morning session:

Day two began twenty minutes past two, and Matthew Hoggard's first ball of the session had Ganguly fending a snorter just short of gully fielder Mark Butcher.

With 14 overs to the second new ball, Hoggard, the pick of the seamers on day one, peppered the skipper, on 29, with a staple diet of short deliveries. The bowler was Hussain's only success yesterday in the 12 bowling changes he effected.

Six overs into the afternoon and Laxman traced his tracks back to the pavilion, edging a full-length delivery from Andy Flintoff to first slip fielder, Robert Key.

Ganguly, joined by Lord's centurion Ajit Agarkar, took over the proceedings and played a crisp drive straight down the ground. With minimum fuss, he ended the Hoggard over with another cover drive. He wiped the cobwebs off his stroke-play, cover-driving the English seamers to distraction. Spotting the ball early and playing it late, he cracked White for another cover drive. Even a vicious bouncer from Hoggard that smacked him on the back of his head under the helmet failed to halt his fluidity.

His fourth boundary of the day, another patent cover drive, got him to his half-century in 164 minutes. Having rediscovered his form, Ganguly settled the Flintoff mêlée, flicking him through the mid-wicket and straight down the ground.

Agarkar, brimming with self-belief, chanced his arm and conjured up a 50-run partnership with his skipper. The English seamers had him hopping with the rising deliveries but luck seemed to be on the Mumbaikar’s side.

Substitute fielder Darren Maddy made a valiant effort at third slip to dismiss Agarkar, but the ball refused to stick, deflecting off his hand to the third man fence.

Hussain, hampered without the services of injured Dominic Cork, made some glaring errors in his bowling changes. Flintoff and debutant Harmison shared the new ball after the 18 over, with Hoggard lounging around the boundary line.

Agarkar's luck finally dissolved, when he sliced Harmison to third man. Butcher caught the ball, but replays confirmed that it touched the grass. Agarkar walked back after a quickfire 39-ball 34 and India had lost its sixth wicket for 285.

A big moment for a small man arrived as he walked out to international cricket for the first time in his life at an age that wouldn’t allow him to drive or vote in India. 17-year-old left-hander Parthiv Patel made history as the youngest Test wicketkeeper ever as he took guard and ran a quick leg bye off the first ball he faced.

His nine-minute stay at the crease was cut short in the final over before tea, when a rising delivery from Harmison glanced off his bat into the bucket-hands of Flintoff at second slip.

Deflated, but not too disheartened, Patel should take his maiden duck on debut with poise, taking refuge in the fact that Sachin Tendulkar too got a blob in his first one-day international.

For a youngster to have come through the ranks, and with age on his side, Patel, who has yet to play a Ranji Trophy game, will learn, improve and move up.

The new ball had torn through the Indian attack as they lost two wickets in the ten overs bowled as India went into tea at 287 for 7. Ganguly played a lone hand on the second day with a 237-minute 68.

Post tea session:

Harbhajan sent the first ball after tea to the point boundary off Harmison, and the sent another one screaming through cover for four.

In the next over, Ganguly attempted a half-hearted hook off Hoggard, and getting a deflection, ballooned a simple catch to the keeper.

Endless replays failed to confirm the catch even though umpire Russell Tiffin’s finger spoke much to the dismay of the skipper whose body language will surely have the match referee summon Ganguly.

Ganguly (68) was the eight Indian wicket to fall, as the Indian innings seemed to dwindle.

Harbhajan Singh played another agricultural pull shot off Hoggard as the Indian total crossed the 300-run mark.

Nine balls into the session, light but incessant showers sent the players scurrying to the comfort of their dressing rooms.

India, with Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan at the crease, had reached 302 for 8.