The hosts had an improbable glimpse of opening up a run chase when India lost three wickets in the first hour of the final morning, but debutant Stuart Binny (78) emphatically restored order
Stuart Binny hooks his way to a fine 78 on the final day of the Trent Bridge Test yesterday. Pic/Bipin Patel.
Nottingham: The first test of India’s tour of England reached the most predictable of stalemates at Trent Bridge.
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Stuart Binny hooks his way to a fine 78 on the final day of the Trent Bridge Test yesterday. Pic/Bipin Patel.
The hosts had an improbable glimpse of opening up a run chase when India lost three wickets in the first hour of the final morning, but debutant Stuart Binny (78) emphatically restored order.
For good measure, as India closed out the inevitable on 391 for nine declared, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (63 not out) bagged his second half-century of the contest — and his Test career — as a lifeless surface had the final say.
Had to be a draw
This match appeared almost from the outset to be headed for a draw, or at any rate since the earliest realisation four days ago that an alarming absence of pace in the pitch would surely stop either team forcing a result.
For a few minutes of a cloudy morning, after Broad took two of three wickets to fall, there was just the outside possibility England could progress.
Binny put paid to that fanciful theory, however, in stands of 65 with Ravindra Jadeja (31) for the seventh wicket and then 91 with Kumar for the eighth.
Jadega chips in
Jadeja contributed with a valuable innings — and his partnership with Binny took critical time out of England’s attempts to force the pace.
Binny found a second ally in Kumar, however — and as it doubtless dawned on Cook that this game was up, the best he could do was ensure no further pointless exercise for Broad and Anderson with another four Tests to come in the next 37 days.
For England, and Cook in particular, the serious stuff will be starting again soon enough -- at Lord’s on Thursday.
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