On This Day — England Dominates India by 196 Runs in Historic 2000th Test at Lord’s

The atmosphere was electric as two top teams went head-to-head at one of the most respected venues in world cricket. In the end, it was England who emerged victorious, beating India by 196 runs on the final day. It was a big win for the hosts and a moment to remember in Test cricket history. Let’s look at how the match unfolded.

India vs England: 1st Test at the Lord’s Cricket Ground

The 2000th Test match in cricket history was a blockbuster showdown between England and India at Lord’s, London, from July 21 to 25, 2011. Kicking off India’s tour of England, this five-day battle ended with England winning by a solid 196 runs. India, led by MS Dhoni, won the toss and decided to bowl first, hoping to rattle England early, but England’s strong batting and sharp bowling took charge. Kevin Pietersen stole the show, earning Player of the Match for his incredible unbeaten 202 in the first innings.

England’s First Innings

England came out swinging in their first innings, racking up a massive 474/8 declared in 131.4 overs, scoring at a steady clip of 3.60 runs per over across 603 minutes. Kevin Pietersen was the heart and soul of the innings, crafting an unbeaten 202 off 326 balls over nearly 500 minutes. With 21 fours and a six, his strike rate of 61.96 showed his ability to grind it out while punishing loose balls. He was a rock, guiding England through tricky moments. Jonathan Trott played a smart 70 off 140 balls, stroking nine fours, and built a big partnership with Pietersen to keep India at bay. Matt Prior brought the fireworks, smashing 71 off 93 balls with seven fours, giving England a late boost.

Ian Bell added a stylish 45 off 76 balls, hitting six fours, before getting out. The top order had a rough start, though, as Andrew Strauss scratched out 22 off 83 balls, and Alastair Cook managed just 12 off 36 balls, both falling to India’s pace attack. Eoin Morgan (0) and Stuart Broad (0) went cheaply, while Graeme Swann chipped in with a quick 24 off 28 balls. Chris Tremlett was not out on 4 when England called it a day. India’s bowlers worked hard, with Praveen Kumar leading the way, grabbing 5 wickets for 106 runs in 40.3 overs. He got Trott, Bell, Morgan, Prior, and Broad, using swing and clever variations to keep England in check.

Zaheer Khan struck early, dismissing Cook and Strauss for 2/18 in 13.3 overs, but an injury cut his day short. Ishant Sharma toiled for 32 overs, giving up 128 runs without a wicket, and Harbhajan Singh’s 35 overs cost 152 runs with no success. Suresh Raina snagged Swann’s wicket, and MS Dhoni bowled tightly, conceding 23 runs in 8 overs. England’s total got a lift from 24 extras (14 byes, 8 leg byes, 1 wide, 1 no-ball). Pietersen’s epic knock, backed by Trott and Prior, gave England a commanding lead, and their declaration put India in a tough spot, setting up a steep challenge.

India’s First Innings

India’s reply was a tough slog, as they were bowled out for 286 in 95.5 overs, lasting 420 minutes at a run rate of 2.98. Rahul Dravid was the standout, staying not out on 103 off 220 balls with 15 fours. His strike rate of 46.81 showed his calm, textbook style, anchoring the innings while others struggled. Abhinav Mukund battled for 49 off 88 balls, hitting five fours, but fell to Stuart Broad. Sachin Tendulkar looked promising with 34 off 58 balls, including six fours, before Broad struck again. MS Dhoni fought hard for 28 off 103 balls, showing grit, while Praveen Kumar’s 17 off 13 balls, with two fours, added a quick burst.

But the rest of the batting crumbled as Gautam Gambhir made 15 off 46 balls, VVS Laxman got 10 off 36 balls, and Suresh Raina (0), Harbhajan Singh (0), Zaheer Khan (0), and Ishant Sharma (0) all fell without making a mark. England’s bowlers were relentless. Stuart Broad was the star, taking 4 wickets for 37 runs in 22 overs, dismissing Mukund, Gambhir, Tendulkar, and Kumar with pace and bounce. Chris Tremlett was a handful, grabbing 3 wickets for 80 runs, getting Laxman, Dhoni, and Harbhajan.

James Anderson took 2 wickets for 87 runs, removing Khan and Sharma, while Graeme Swann trapped Raina for 1/50. India’s innings included 30 extras (5 byes, 12 leg byes, 12 no-balls, 1 wide), but they ended 188 runs behind England. Dravid’s century was a lone highlight, but India’s batting couldn’t handle England’s tight bowling. The middle order’s collapse and lack of partnerships left them in deep trouble by the end of day two, with England firmly in control and India facing a massive deficit.

England’s Second Innings

England’s second innings was a mix of aggression and strategy, as they scored 269/6 declared in 71 overs at a lively 3.78 runs per over, setting India a huge 458-run target. Matt Prior was the standout, blasting an unbeaten 103 off 120 balls with five fours and a six, his strike rate of 85.83 showing his attacking intent. He kept England moving forward with smart shot-making. Stuart Broad played a cracking unbeaten 74 off 90 balls, smashing nine fours, and his partnership with Prior piled on the runs. Andrew Strauss scored a steady 32 off 70 balls with four fours before Harbhajan Singh got him.

Jonathan Trott made 22 off 55 balls, but the top order struggled as Alastair Cook scraped 1 off 27 balls, Kevin Pietersen got 1 off 3 balls, and Ian Bell was out for 0 off 5 balls, all falling to India’s pacers. Eoin Morgan scored 19 off 56 balls but couldn’t go big. India’s bowling was led by Ishant Sharma, who bounced back with 4 wickets for 59 runs in 22 overs, dismissing Trott, Pietersen, Bell, and Morgan with sharp, accurate bowling. Praveen Kumar got Cook for 1/70, and Harbhajan Singh removed Strauss for 1/66. Suresh Raina and MS Dhoni bowled a few overs, giving up 43 and 16 runs without wickets.

England’s total included 17 extras (7 byes, 8 leg byes, 2 wides). The declaration after 312 minutes was spot-on, giving England plenty of time to bowl India out. Prior and Broad’s late charge made the target daunting, and despite early top-order stumbles, England’s lower order showed their depth. This aggressive innings set up a thrilling finish, putting India under massive pressure to chase a near-impossible total on the final days.

India’s Second Innings

Chasing 458, India fought hard but fell short, bowled out for 261 in 96.3 overs at a run rate of 2.70, losing by 196 runs. Suresh Raina led the charge with a brave 78 off 136 balls, hitting 10 fours at a strike rate of 57.35. He showed heart, battling England’s bowlers with flair. VVS Laxman played a classy 56 off 113 balls, stroking eight fours, while Rahul Dravid scored 36 off 93 balls with five fours, but neither could go on. Gautam Gambhir made 22 off 56 balls, and Sachin Tendulkar disappointed with 12 off 68 balls, both falling to England’s attack.

MS Dhoni scored 16 off 49 balls, and Harbhajan Singh got 12 off 24 balls, but Praveen Kumar (2), Zaheer Khan (0 not out), and Ishant Sharma (1) couldn’t hold firm. James Anderson was the destroyer, taking 5 wickets for 65 runs in 28 overs, dismissing Dravid, Laxman, Tendulkar, Raina, and Harbhajan with pinpoint swing bowling. Stuart Broad grabbed 3 wickets for 57 runs, getting Mukund, Kumar, and Sharma. Chris Tremlett took Dhoni’s wicket for 1/44, and Graeme Swann dismissed Gambhir for 1/64.

India’s innings had 14 extras (2 byes, 6 leg byes, 6 no-balls). Raina and Laxman’s fifties gave India some hope, but England’s bowlers, led by Anderson’s brilliance, were too good. India’s batting couldn’t withstand the pressure, and despite moments of fight, they fell well short of the target. England’s smart declarations and relentless bowling sealed a memorable victory in this landmark Test, showcasing their dominance.