India wrest initiative in final session

Dec 11, 2008

The first Test began with players from both teams observing a two-minute silence in memory of the victims of the Mumbai terror attack•AFP

Both batsmen took their time to settle and saw England through to lunch at 63 for no loss•Getty Images

Strauss was the first to bring up his fifty, off 102 balls•Getty Images

But a lapse in concentration saw Cook mis-hitting a slog sweep off Harbhajan straight to Zaheer at mid-on•AFP

India struck immediately after the break, with Zaheer trapping Ian Bell lbw for 17•AFP

Paul Collingwood did not last too long either, but was unlucky to be given out caught at forward short leg off Harbhajan with England at 195 for 4•Getty Images

England opted to bat first and made a sedate start with openers Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss seeing off the early threat from Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma•Getty Images

The game was played amid high security•Getty Images

Both batsmen were looking strong and brought up their century stand in the 35th over•Getty Images

There was joy at last for India with the partnership ending at 118•Getty Images

Strauss then brought up his 13th Test century with a boundary off Zaheer•AFP

Strauss' resistance finally ended, caught and bowled by Mishra for 123. England lost four wickets in the final session for 65 runs and finished on 229 for 5 at stumps•Getty Images

With the openers handling the spinners comfortably, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and deputy Virender Sehwag were struggling to find answers to break England's stodgy resistance•AFP

Cook also brought up his fifty and England were beginning to take the upper hand•Getty Images

However, Strauss continued undeterred, closing in on his hundred shortly before tea•AFP

However, England's middle order crumbled in the final session. Kevin Pietersen fell in Zaheer's next over, out caught and bowled, for 4•AFP