The English seamers completely straitjacketed the Indians in the post-lunch session, which yielded just 47 runs in 23 overs, which cost India the wickets of Virender Sehwag (17), Rahul Dravid (0) and Sachin Tendulkar (5).

Early signs, however, looked positive. Gambhir looked his fluent self, hitting Anderson for two boundaries in the first over of the innings. Sehwag, however, didn’t look convincing and the right-hander scored his first run through a streaky lemon cut.

Two boundaries off Anderson promised a lot before an agile Ian Bell cut short Sehwags stay. The opener had hit it hard back at bowler Stuart Broad, who only managed to deflect the ball, prompting Sehwag to set off for a risky single.

From short extra-cover Bell darted, picked up the ball and dived straight into the stumps with Sehwag way short of the ground.

The long-awaited century in the first innings was expected to do world of good to Dravids confidence but he seemed back to square one again, looking thoroughly unconvincing before Broad squeezed one through his gate to rattle his stumps for a 19-ball duck.

Tendulkar came amid thunderous applause that is reserved for him wherever he goes. But the Mohali Test turned out to be a highly forgettable outing for the Mumbaikar who followed his first innings score of 11 with a five.

Tormented by Broad right from the start, Tendulkar guided Anderson to gully to find Graeme Swann and at 44 for three, India didn’t look like the team, which had a clear edge in the match.

... contd.