Ahmedabad, Nov 17 (IANS) England looked to be headed for a follow−on after being reduced to 110 for seven at lunch on day three of the first Test at Sardar Patel Stadium here Saturday.
England will have to score another 211 runs with three wickets remaining to avoid a follow−on.
Resuming the day on 41 for three, England lost Kevin Pietersen (17), Ian Bell (0) and captain Alistair Cook (41) in quick succession and trail the hosts by 411 runs.
England failed to come to terms with India’s spin attack with Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha both taking their innings wicket tally to three.
Except for Cook, no England batsman inspired confidence. They showed no faith in their defensive technique.
Pietersen was the first to go, castled by Ojha. He looked completely at sea against the offspinner’s accurate bowling.
Bell was caught at mid−off off the very next ball. Cook, who was the only batsman looking comfortable at the crease was foxed by a conventional off−spin delivery by Ashwin and was caught at first slip by Virender Sehwag.
Samit Patel (10) was the last English wicket to fall in the morning session. The all−rounder would count himself unlucky as he was adjudged lbw off a Umesh Yadav delivery that would have missed the leg−stump.
