Hoggard rips through Indian top order, puts England on top

Nagpur, Mar 3 (UNI) Matthew Hoggard ripped through the Indian top order to put England in the driver's seat at lunch, on the third day of the first Test being played here today.

At lunch-break, India were in dire straits having lost six wickets with just 190 runs on board. Mohammed Kaif with 18 and Irfan Pathan with two were holding fort for the Indians at break.

Earlier, England had made 393 in their first innings.

India could manage to score just 54 runs for the loss of five wickets in 26 overs in the morning session today.

The hosts, resuming at 136 for one with both Wasim Jaffer and Rahul Dravid going strong were rattled by Matthew Hoggard, who used the overcast conditions and the slight moisture on the wicket due to overnight rain to telling effect.

After Dravid survived a testing first over from the Yorkshire man, Jaffer began from where he left of yesterday punching Andrew Flintoff down the ground for the first four of the morning.

However, in Hoggard's third over, the paceman got one to nip back off the seam to rap Dravid on the pads. The ball seemed to be going down the leg side, but umpire Aleem Dar had no hesitation in raising his finger. The Indian captain went without adding anything to his overnight score of 40 with India at 140 for three.

More UNI GS GK PM DS1253