England draw some browny points

England had set India a target of 368 runs after they had declared at the overnight score of 297/3. On the last day, on a slow and turning wicket, India began without much clue about what they had in mind. Even if they had sniffed victory, the early fall of Sehwag, who was bowled through the gates by man-of-the-match Matthew Hoggard, instantly forced them on the back foot.

Jaffer and Dravid stemmed the rot, Pathan and Dhoni hurried the tempo and Tendulkar provided the icing on the cake. From being 168/2, ten overs after tea, India reached 260/6 in the next 10 before umpires offered light. Tendulkar took the call8212;knowing that England could take the new ball any moment8212;and the first Test between the two teams ended with honours shared.

Both teams now proceed to Mohali from here, a venue where England miserably lost the last time they played in 2001-028212;by 10 wickets, while India were held defiantly by Pakistan, in 2005.

After the Nagpur Test, the general speculation that existed about England being the weaker team among the two, has been put to rest. Despite all the misery that compounded their visit, the tourists ended up being the better side in the first Test and knowing what India have in their armoury, they are sure to equip themselves better for the next match. India, nevertheless, will also carry their share of momentum gained from the sudden burst on the final day here.

For Dravid, who expressed his views after the day8217;s proceedings, 8216;8216;the chase wasn8217;t really on.8217;8217; Instead, he and Jaffer decided to stick around and thwart England8217;s attempt in getting further breakthroughs. 8216;8216;It was after tea, when we decided to give it a try. If Dhoni or Irfan had a good day, one can never say,8217;8217; the captain said.

Dravid8217;s team will take home the positives from this game. For instance, the partnership of Anil Kumble and Mohd Kaif for the eighth wicket that saved India the blushes in the first innings.

Yet, it is England who will move ahead with maximum gains they derived here. Both psychologically and physically, England endured the complexity of having to gather their best possible eleven and play under trying circumstances, including the Nagpur heat. Then of course, the individual heroics that were displayed so well in the last session of Sunday8217;s play.

To start with, it was Monty Panesar8217;s wicket of Dravid, a replay of how he had dismissed Kaif in the first innings, or even better. Three deliveries later, Jaffer scored his first Test century, an acknowledgement of what he deserved in the backdrop of a glorious domestic career. And later in the day, Pathan, Dhoni and Tendulkar8212;the flurry of strokes8212;had set the VCA on fire.