Sehwag, Dravid fashion an easy 9-wicket win for India

Mohali, Mar 13 (UNI) An unbeaten 105-run partnership for the second wicket between opener Virender Sehwag (76) and captain Rahul Dravid (42) fashioned India to an easy nine-wicket victory against England in the second Test at the PCA Stadium here today.

Chasing a victory target of 144 runs, the hosts batsmen accomplished the task without any hiccup and recorded the second win against England on this ground, the first one being in 2001 which India won by 10 wickets.

India now lead the three-match series 1-0 with the third Test scheduled in Mumbai.

Sehwag and Dravid were not in a hurry after the dismissal of opener Wasim Jaffer early in the innings. Jaffer contributed 17 and was out leg before wicket off the bowling of Mathew Hoggard when the Indian scoreboard was reading just 39.

England captain Andrew Flintoff used as many as six bowlers, including Paul Collingwood who conceded 20 runs in three overs.

Sehwag punished him in his second over by hitting him for a four at mid-off and later lifted the England medium pacer for a six.

Sehwag hit nine fours and one six in his 89-ball 76 not out.

He also hit the winning run off left-arm spinner Monty Panesar.

Dravid remained unconquered on 42 which contained three fours.

Earlier, India skittled out England for 181 in their second innings in 76.1 overs which lasted 316 minutes. Debutant medium pacer Munaf Patel bowled his heart out and was suitably rewarded for his efforts with three England batsmen on a wicket which still had a good bounce on the fifth day. His impressive bowling analysis in England second innings read 13-4-25-4.

Ace leg spinner Anil Kumble (29-7-70-4) also shared the spoils.

Playing in his 105th Test, Kumble claimed nine England wickets with match bowling figures of 58.4-14-146-9.

Kumble, who was adjudged man-of-the-match, was later felicitated by Punjab Governor Gen. S F Rodrigues for becoming the first Indian bowler to take 500 Test wickets.

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