Swann and Flintoff prevent India from huge score

Cricket: England reaped the rewards for a patient bowling display to prevent India progressing to a far more formidable first…

Cricket:England reaped the rewards for a patient bowling display to prevent India progressing to a far more formidable first-innings total than they eventually managed in the final Test in Mohali.

Resuming the second day on 179 for one at the PCA Stadium, the tourists were facing the prospect of replying to a massive total after Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid both scored centuries in a record 314-run second-wicket stand.

But instead of building on that partnership, India struggled  — with no other batsman reaching 50 — and were dismissed for 453 before bad light ended play without the tourists starting their reply.

Off-spinner Graeme Swann, playing only his second Test, was the catalyst for England's fightback — claiming three wickets in 10 overs to remove Gambhir, Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.

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Without their experienced middle order to supervise India's intended acceleration beyond 500, their momentum collapsed — and they lost their last nine wickets for 123 runs in 49 overs.

Swann was rewarded for his efforts with three for 122, while all rounder Andrew Flintoff finished with three for 54 from 30.2 impressive overs.

Meanwhile, a composed century from skipper Graeme Smith has put South Africa within range of winning the first Test against Australia in Perth, although the tourists will need to complete the second highest run chase in history to do it.

On a stormy, rain-interrupted day at the WACA, where play stretched deep into the evening, South Africa bowled Australia out for 319 on the stroke of lunch, top-scorer Brad Haddin reaching 94 to set the Proteas 414 to win the Test over five sessions.

The South Africans lost Neil McKenzie early in the innings for 10, but Smith's century and a half century to Hashim Amla helped the Proteas finish on 227 for three, needing 187 to win with seven wickets in hand and a day to play.