Binny slams fifty and lower-order bat India out of trouble
Stuart Binny scored a match-saving 78 on his debut as India overcame some anxious moments to manage a draw in the first cricket Test against England at Trent Bridge on Sunday.
The visitors were on backfoot in the morning session as Virat Kohli (8), Ajinkya Rahane (24) and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (11) were dismissed in quick succession with the visiting side 145 runs ahead and just four second innings wicket in hand.
However, Binny made a mark in his maiden Test with a memorable performance as he not only pulled India out of the woods but also took his side to a lead of more than 300 runs to shut the door on England at Trent Bridge.
Binny was involved in a 65-run stand with Jadeja and then 91-run partnership with Bhuvneshwar as he strove to keep the Indian innings alive. Bhuvneshwar, who had played a vital knock in the first innings, gave further proof of his batting prowess as he played a supporting role to the debutant to ensure the draw.
India continued to bat and declared their second innings at 391 for nine. The two sides then decided to end the match.
Binny, who showed fantastic temperament in his debut match, looked on course for a century before Moeen Ali had him LBW with 10 minutes to go for Tea. India were 347 for eight at tea break, an overall lead of 308, and by then it was clear that the match would end in a draw.
After Stuart Broad removed Virat Kohli first and Ajinkya Rahane off consecutive overs and Liam Plunkett dismissed MS Dhoni early in the second innings India were in danger of folding up. Left tottering on 184/6, India found a rescuer in Stuart Binny, who played a mature 78-run knock to steer India to safety in Trent Bridge.
Earlier after a delayed start India’s woes continued into the last day as Broad trapped Kohli leg-before, and in his next over got Rahane to edge one straight to Matt Prior.
With a lead of 134, the pressure was building on the visitors when Jadeja joined Dhoni in the centre.
James Anderson and Broad swung the ball and bowled fuller to tie the batsmen down. Striving to open his account, Jadeja failed to connect as Anderson kept him guessing. And Dhoni got a life as Cook dropped him at first slip off Broad.
After about an hour into the day’s play, Plunkett replacing Anderson disrupted the India captain’s woodwork to give the home team a vital breakthrough.
Struggling on 184/6 India required the lower-order to bat them to safety. And Jadeja and Binny combated the England bowlers to take India to 230 for six with a lead of 191 runs at Lunch.
Early in the second session, Anderson struck with the new ball to send back Jadeja. The left-hand batsman nicked the ball to the keeper, leaving India on 249/7. He was replaced by Bhuvneshwar who then ably supported Binny in adding useful runs as they ploughed on.
The two sides now move to Lord’s in London for the second of the five-match Test series, which begins on July 17.
Brief scores:
Day 1: India 1st inn 259/4 in 90 overs (M Vijay 122*, MS Dhoni 50*)
Day 2: India 1st inn 457 all out in 161 overs (M Vijay 146, MS Dhoni 82, B Kumar 58, M Shami 51*, J Anderson 3/123); Eng 1st inn 43/1 in 17 overs (S Robson 20*, GS Ballance 15*)
Day 3: Eng 1st inn 352/9 in 106 overs (J Root 78*, G Ballance 71, S Robson 59, B Kumar 4/61, I Sharma 3/109)
Day 4: Eng 1st inn 496 all out in 144.5 (J Root 154*, J Anderson 81, B Kumar 5/82); Ind 2nd inn 167/3 in 48 overs (C Pujara 55, M Vijay 52, A Rahane 18*, V Kohli 8*, M Ali 2/39)
Day 4: Ind 2nd inn 391/9 decl. in 123 overs (S Binny 78, B Kumar 63*, M Ali 3/105).
Man of the Match: James Anderson for his contribution with the bat and ball.
