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England crumble to Indian spin
3/13/2006
MOHALI, Mar12 (AFP): Anil Kumble grabbed three wickets to brighten India's hopes of forcing a win in the second Test against England.
England had struggled to 112-5 in their second innings at stumps on the fourth day after conceding a lead of 38. The tourists are now just 74 ahead with five wickets in hand.
Ian Bell top-scored with a solid 57 for his seventh Test half-century before being caught behind to become leg-spinner Kumble's third victim.
Pietersen, who had scored two successive half-centuries in the series, contributed just four this time before walking back in disbelief being caught by Dravid off Harbhajan.
Pietersen fell three overs after England had lost Andrew Strauss, who was given out by the third umpire.
Kumble's other victim was all-rounder Paul Collingwood, caught at slip by Dravid after making 14.
India secured a first innings lead after an impressive 95 from Dravid and useful contributions from bowlers Irfan Pathan (52), Harbhajan (36) and Kumble (32). They were bowled out for 338 in reply to England's first innings 300.
India were in danger of conceding the lead when they were reduced to 153-5 after resuming on 149-4, but Dravid and Pathan steadied the innings with a crucial 76-run stand for the sixth wicket.
Kumble and Harbhajan were then involved in a rollicking 53-run stand for the eighth wicket.
Flintoff was the most successful bowler, claiming three of the six Indian wickets that fell Sunday to finish with 4-96. Swing bowler Matthew Hoggard and paceman Steve Harmison each bagged two.
The England captain dismissed well-set Dravid and the free-stroking Pathan in the morning session.
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