India 338 all out, gain a handy 38-run first innings lead

Mohali, Mar 12 (UNI) Lower order batsmen Anil Kumble (32) and Harbhajan Singh (36) made valuable contributions and continued the good work done by captain Rahul Dravid and Irfan Pathan as India took a handy 38-run first innings lead at tea on the fourth day in the second Test against England at the PCA Stadium here today.

The hosts were bowled out for 338 in reply to England's 300 all out and tea was taken at the close of India innings, 30 minutes ahead of scheduled time.

Earlier, Dravid's cautious 95 and Irfan Pathan's quickfire 52 carried India to safety from their overnight total of 149 for six to 269 for seven at lunch.

Dravid, who came at the fall of open Virender Sehwag's wicket at 18 yesterday, played the sheet anchor's role guiding India to safety before he returned to the pavillion five short of century.

He stayed at the wicket for 322 minutes and faced 208 deliveries slamming 10 fours, including two fine cover drives and one boundary at third man in one Andrew Flintoff over.

But the England captain got his revenge soon when he uprooted Dravid's middle stump by a ball which nipped back from off.

The Indian captain's sixth-wicket partnership with Pathan yielded valuable 76 runs which were compiled in 82 minutes and from 99 deliveries.

Dravid's dismissal silenced the crowd which was looking forward to a hundred from him.

Meanwhile, Pathan's hurricane 52 came from 58 deliveries after occupying the crease for 109 minutes. He slammed five fours and one six before he was caught by Paul Collingwood off the bowling of Flintoff.

Pathan drove off the front foot and Collingwood at backward point accepted the catch.

For the visitors, Flintoff was the most successful bowler as he claimed four wickets for 86 runs.

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