Dravid’s ton in vain as India stare defeat again

Rahul Dravid's valiant and unbeaten 146 can't stop india from following on; visitors in dire straits on 129 for three at stumps on day four of Oval Test

Dravid's ton in vain as India stare defeat again

Rahul Dravid's valiant and unbeaten 146 can't stop india from following on; visitors in dire straits on 129 for three at stumps on day four of Oval Test

Rahul Dravid en route an unbeaten 146 in the first innings yesterday.
Pic/ Bipin Patel

Yesterday, he went passed Sunil Gavaskar's 34 Test hundreds and carried his bat through to help India post their best score in the series -- 300. One couldn't blame the English commentators when they said, 'Can you believe it.' India better believe it -- the best batting side in the world managed 300 after six innings.

Dravid's 146 runs were worth their weight in gold although he could have been run out twice in his memorable innings; despite the effort not helping India duck the follow-on. With specialist opening batsman Gautam Gambhir still shaken due to a concussion, Dravid walked out to open the innings in the second innings.

Sure, India can save the fourth Test on the final day today, but they don't have Dravid. They still have Sachin Tendulkar though.

Thirty-two balls into his innings and Dravid was dismissed for 13 -- caught by Alastair Cook at bat-pad off Graeme Swann. Hot Spot did not reveal a touch, but the human eye -- Steve Davis -- was convinced that the Indian giant had to go. Swann deserved the wicket of India's best batsman of the series. The Oval crowd got to watch Dravid's batting brilliance spiced with sheer grit on two successive days. These two days will long be remembered by his fans here. That he won't figure in a Test here again is sad.

But that's what happens to all good things. Correction: Great!

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