India's recovery - Victory over England Rajiv Kumar - 9 April 1999 CricInfo report

On Thursday India hit rock bottom when they lost to Pakistan in the most pathetic fashion possible. But in last night's close match against England they showed signs of recovery, winning by twenty runs.

Azharuddin won the toss and elected to bat. Once again the Indian openers struggled against the fast bowlers. Rather than trying to attack the bowling, Ganguly seemed to be keen in only surviving at the wicket. Ramesh was comprehensively beaten by Gough on countless occasions. At the end of 7 overs, India were a paltry 18/2.

Darren Gough was finally rewarded for his excellent bowling when Ganguly nicked a slower ball to the keeper. The next man in, Dravid, failed once again and was caught and bowled by Hick.

Mohammed Azharuddin, in the last 9 games, has averaged only 21 runs. This time he needed to play a captain's knock and he did just that. Though he was not at his fluent best, Azhar seemed determined not to give his wicket away cheaply. At the end of 25 overs, India were 90/2.

Ramesh and Azhar added 59 valuable runs before the opener was caught behind off Gough. Short partnerships with Jadeja, Robin Singh and Mongia ensured that Azhar took India past the 200 mark. At the end of the innings India had made 222/5. Azhar had made 74 not out. However he was hit on the toe by an inswinging yorker from Gough and was unable to lead his side on the field. Jadeja took over the captaincy role.

The English openers, Alec Stewart and Nick Knight, had to deal with some good bowling from Srinath and Prasad. In the seventh over, Stewart was comprehensively beaten by a inswinger from Srinath and clean bowled. In the very next over Knight played onto his stumps a inswinger from Prasad. After 8 overs, England were 25/2.

Hick and Thorpe stabilized the innings by taking quick singles. Things were looking bleak for India with both these batsmen going from strength to strength. To make matters worse Mongia had to leave the field when he was struck on the face by a delivery from Kumble.

Dravid took over the gloves. Hick came down the wicket against Joshi, missed the ball and Dravid completed a simple stumping. A few overs latter Thorpe played a lofted shot that went straight to the fielder at long off. After 25 overs England were 90/4. Both these batsmen had squandered a good partnership of 55 runs and England had to start all over again.

Neil Fairbrother and Andrew Flintoff were up to the challenge. Flintoff hit some big boundaries. Fairbrother at the other end was at his crafty best.

This partnership of 72 runs was finally broken in Prasad's second spell. In the 38th over, Prasad bowled a perfect leg-cutter that Flintoff missed and was bowled. Ealham did not last long and he too succumbed to a legcutter from Prasad. Fairbrother was not fazed by the fall of wickets. Instead he smashed Robin for 11 runs in the 43 over.

The match could have gone either way at this stage. Ajay Jadeja, the standby captain, had to get one over from a part time bowler but was not sure on whom to call on. Singh and Ganguly had been too expensive. Jadeja decided that he would bowl himself. This was truly a big gamble. Jadeja had bowled only 8 balls in the last one and half years and he had not taken a wicket in two and half years! But today he bowled a magical over.

The first ball was missed by Croft and it did not produce any runs. The second ball, Croft played a inside out lofted shot that was caught by substitute Kanitkar at deep cover. The 3rd ball was called wide. The 4th ball was a perfect outswinger to Fairbrother who nicked it to the keeper. The 5th ball was hit in the air by Gough but was dropped by Ganguly. The batsmen ran 2 runs. The next ball Gough and Austin nearly ran themselves out. The final ball Gough played onto his stumps. What an over! 7 balls were bowled, 3 wickets were taken, 3 runs were conceded and 1 catch was dropped.

The match was practically won in that over. But the last wicket fell in the next over when Austin was run out.

India had won by 20 runs. Jadeja was named Man of the match for that magical over that he bowled. He did reveal to the commentators after the match that he has been bowling in the nets everyday.