da aposte e ganhe： Cricinfo presents the Plays of the day from the fourth day of the first Test between India and England in Chennai
Cricinfo staff14-Dec-2008
The Chennai crowd cheered when Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood reached their centuries but not as loudly as when Virender Sehwag was blazing away © Getty Images
Chennai, take a bow
Nearly a decade ago, they swallowed their painto stand and applaud as Wasim Akram’s Pakistan side went on a lap ofhonour. On Sunday, they were on their feet again, clapping with genuineappreciation as Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood reached theircenturies. Of course, it was nothing compared to the decibel level onceVirender Sehwag started teeing off.No fours please, we’re English
In the afternoon session, withmost in the ground expecting a declaration, England dawdled along. By thetime Matt Prior stepped out and lashed one through cover, they had gone109 balls without a boundary. Some intent.Not a happy Bhajji
When Rahul Dravid couldn’t get his hands to adifficult chance at leg slip, Harbhajan Singh was heard mutteringsomething along the lines of “Why don’t you come and bowl?” His mooddidn’t improve later in the afternoon either, with Gautam Gambhir droppingPrior at short leg. This time, there were no words, just a woe-is-meexpression.His strength is his weakness?
That seemed to be Steve Harmison’stheory while bowling to Sehwag. It didn’t quite work though. By the timeKevin Pietersen decided that a steady diet of short and wide deliverieswasn’t quite the need of the hour, Sehwag had pounded five fours and oneastonishing six over third man.Playing yourself in: What’s that?
Monty Panesar’s first ball toSehwag was a full toss. Sehwag saw it early, took a good meaty swing anddeposited the ball into the stand at square leg. It brought up India’s 50,in 5.3 overs. Slow and steady, it wasn’t.How to empty the stands
Two balls after nonchalantly loftingGraeme Swann over wide long-on for a six, Sehwag went for the paddle sweepand missed it. The appeal was vociferous, and it took Daryl Harper an ageto lift the finger. As an annoyed Sehwag walked off, some in the standsstarted heading for the exit.The first run is the hardest
It took Dravid eight deliveries toget off the mark with a single behind square on the leg side. The cheersthat greeted it could have been mistaken for applause that usuallyaccompanies a half-century or better. How the mighty have fallen.