Sorry England facing a whitewash in India

Barring an astonishing act of adventure from their hosts, Kevin Pietersen's men have already kissed goodbye to snatching a series-squaring victory tomorrow before boarding the plane home.

But defeat in the Second Test — to follow that 5-0 one-day drubbing and last Monday's shattering loss in Chennai — remains a nagging possibility.

When India were 44 for three — only 195 runs ahead and slowly grinding themselves into a hole — thoughts of an away win began to surface.

But then up popped Yuvraj Singh, the man whose spin bowling was likened to that of a "pie-chucker" by Pietersen yesterday, to bat India back into a position of strength. Runs had come at barely a trickle until the arrival of Yuvraj and the next 12 overs produced 54, with the left-handed biffer bagging 39 of them from 40 balls.

England tried to get under Yuvraj's skin, as they have since he started the one-day series by hammering them for two hundreds. But he responded with some typically aggressive batting and piled on more misery for struggling left-arm spinner Monty Panesar by swinging a big six over mid-wicket.

By the close, India were 285 ahead, at 134 for four, and the ball seems certain to be in their court tomorrow so far as trying to press for another victory or letting the game drift to a draw. But England can be certain here that their hosts will not offer them even a glimpse of a victory chance if they can help it.

"We like to play winning cricket but we'll take into account we are 1-0 up in the series," confirmed India's coach, Gary Kirsten.

Harbhajan Singh was certainly interested in winning this morning. Having done for Pietersen last night, he made it three wickets in 16 balls when play finally began two hours later than scheduled because of fog.

Matt Prior, who batted defiantly in both innings at last week at Chennai, fell in soft fashion today, feathering an attempted leg-glance into Mahendra Dhoni's gloves with only three runs added to the overnight total of 282 for six.

Stuart Broad's departure was even softer, though. Shouldering arms to what he assumed was an off-break, left-hander Broad lost his off-stump in embarrassing fashion as the ball went straight on. Now England were in complete collapse mood.

Graeme Swann is a decent No10. But Zaheer Khan is an outstanding left-arm paceman and, having moved two away from Swann, he nipped the next one back into him to hit middle and leg. Brilliant. That just left Panesar to keep Jimmy Anderson company — though not for long. Having survived a few close shaves, the No11 prodded Harbhajan to short-leg and England were right on the back foot.

Virender Sehwag had plans to keep them there. Having fallen for a third-ball duck in the first innings, the right-handed opener began to look menacing when he square drove and then clipped Anderson for two boundaries in an over. But his determination to get on with things brought about his downfall for 17 with 30 on the board. Trying to pinch the tightest of singles after Broad had parried a straight drive, Sehwag was comfortably run out by Ian Bell.

India were then forced deep into their shell by the combined efforts of Anderson, Broad and Andrew Flintoff, who together restricted the hosts to just 26 runs in 19 overs while dismissing Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar.

Dravid, who saved his Test career with a first innings century, seldom looked like making a run today before being bowled for a 19th-ball duck when a delivery from Broad kept low. And even Tendulkar could not break the stranglehold, eventually steering Anderson to gully after 40 minutes at the crease.

Two more quick wickets then would have been interesting. But another 19 overs had gone when VVS Laxman was run out by Flintoff's excellent pick-up and throw from extra cover.

Suddenly, there was renewed urgency about England's work and the sight of Yuvraj swaggering out to the middle fired them up even more.
There is no doubt India's Test No6 is fairly pleased with himself as a cricketer. And there's no denying, either, that he can play like a bit.

Yuvraj showed that in Chennai last week when joining Tendulkar in a match-winning partnership, and both his temperament and technique were equally strong here.