Sehwag guides India to Test win

Opener Virender Sehwag lashed 76 not out to guide India to a nine-wicket victory over England in the second test today, giving…

Opener Virender Sehwag lashed 76 not out to guide India to a nine-wicket victory over England in the second test today, giving the hosts a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

After seamer Matthew Hoggard trapped fellow opener Wasim Jaffer (17) leg before soon after lunch, Sehwag and skipper Rahul Dravid (42 not out) took over, putting on an unbroken 105-run second wicket partnership.

Sehwag typically mixed slashes and drives to score his 11th test 50, striking nine fours and a six from 89 balls to spur India to the modest target of 144 at tea on the final day.

The first test in Nagpur ended in a draw and the third test starts in Mumbai on Saturday.

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England were bowled all out for 181 in their second innings close to lunch, their batsmen succumbing to pace and spin on a breaking Mohali pitch.

Debutant fast bowler Munaf Patel struck three quick blows to all-but extinguish English hopes of salvaging a draw. He returned four for 25 for a splendid match haul of seven wickets.

Leg spinner Anil Kumble also picked four in England's second innings after his triple strikes late on day four had reduced the visitors to 112 for five overnight, just 74 runs ahead.

The 35-year-old spinner, who claimed five wickets in the England first innings to reach his 500th test wicket, was named man of the match.

England had braced for Kumble, only to be hit by Patel.

The 22 year old struck with the fifth ball of the morning to dismiss overnight batsman Geraint Jones (five), who played a rising delivery onto his stumps.

The Indian youngster trapped Liam Plunkett (one) leg before in his third over then fired in a yorker to bowl Matthew Hoggard (four), the ball deflecting off his boot to hit off-stump.

England captain Andrew Flintoff (51), leading the side in the absence of injured captain Michael Vaughan, waged a lonely battle before running out of partners.

The 28-year-old all rounder had top-scored with 70 in the first innings and claimed four wickets to restrict India's first innings lead to 38 runs.

The England captain finally went down to leg spinner Piyush Chawla.