The game twisted one way and another before ending up even; Strauss (158), Tendulkar (120), Bresnan (5/48) and Zaheer (3/64) light up Chinnaswamy
It had all the makings of a blockbuster — a Sachin Tendulkar century, a brilliant comeback from a losing position and, finally, the match ending in a tie. England’s tail-enders scored 28 runs in the last two overs after their side had lost the momentum during the batting powerplay.
Needing another 38 runs from 18 balls with four wickets in hand, Tim Bresnan and Graeme Swann scored 18 runs off the 49th over, bowled by Piyush Chawla, including two sixes. In the last over, Ajmal Shahzad hit a straight six off Munaf Patel to bring down the equation to five needed off three. With two to get off the last ball, Swann hit the ball straight to mid-off and they managed only a single.
However, even India made a fantastic comeback when they restricted England to just 25 runs in the batting powerplay. Zaheer Khan’s inspired spell (3/11) did the trick.
At the end of the 42nd over, the 38,000 gathered at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium had given up hopes of an Indian victory. Many of them started leaving the ground as England were cruising at 280 for two, needing only 59 runs from 48 balls. Andrew Strauss, who was batting on 157, and Ian Bell, on 69, were slowly and steadily ensuring that England would end up recording the highest successful chase in WC history.
Zaheer Khan, who bowled the first over of the batting powerplay, got the all important breakthrough as he picked up the wicket of Ian Bell (69, 71 balls 4x4 1x6) caught at mid-off to bring an end to the 170-run third wicket partnership. But he was not done. The very next ball, he bowled was a superb yorker to send back Strauss for 158 (145 balls, 18x4, 1x6) came to an end.
With the two set batsmen gone, the Indians found a new lease of life as the English batsmen started feeling the pressure. In his next over, Zaheer clean bowled Paul Collingwood, while Harbhajan sent back Matt Prior in the penultimate over of the batting powerplay, after which there were three thrilling overs.
Earlier, Sachin Tendulkar completed his fifth century in World Cups as India posted 338 runs. They could have gone past the 350-run mark, but Tim Bresnan stopped the onslaught picking up five wickets.
Electing to bat first, Virender Sehwag made an edgy start as he looked a bit uncomfortable in the opening over. Though he hit a few boundaries, he could not repeat his Mirpur performance as he was brilliantly caught behind off Bresnan after scoring 35 of 26 balls.
With Sehwag back in the pavilion, Tendulkar took the charge on his shoulders as he made the most of the flat track and poor bowling by the English spinners.
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