MOHALI (India), Dec 19: Gautam Gambhir hit an unbeaten 106 and Rahul Dravid finally returned to form with 65 not out as India made a solid start in the second and final Test against England on Friday.

The pair put on 173 for the unbroken second wicket as India recovered from the early loss of Virender Sehwag to post 179 for one when bad light ended play 18 overs early.

Left-handed Gambhir, who made 66 in the first Test in Chennai which India won by six wickets, slammed his third century in four Tests and the fourth of his 22-match career.

The 27-year-old Delhi opener now has 964 runs in eight Tests this year at an average of 68.85, with a personal best of 206 against Australia in New Delhi in October.

Dravid, fighting to retain his Test place after a recent slump in form, recorded his 54th Test half-century, but the first in his last nine innings.

The pair batted through most of the gloomy day to frustrate England’s bid to gain quick wickets in a match they must win to draw the two-match series.

Gambhir, who made 104 against Australia at the same Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in October, said he was delighted with his performance.

“This is obviously a lucky ground for me,” he said. “But this one is a special hundred because the ball was doing a bit and England looked determined to come hard at us.

“Our mindset should be to go for runs and try and win the series 2-0 which will make us the number two Test side by the end of this year.”

Both Gambhir and England coach Peter Moores applauded Dravid’s return to form.

“His innings was important for himself and the team,” said Gambhir. “He is a legend and I am no one to comment on him.”

Moores added: “Good players do not become ‘not good’ players overnight. He showed his value to his team.”

The England coach said he was satisfied with his bowlers’ efforts, despite gaining just one wicket in the day.

“We bowled well all day,” said Moores. “On another day we may have got three wickets.

“Keeping them under three runs an over was a good job and a couple of more wickets would have changed the game.”

India began slowly after electing to bat in overcast conditions, groping for the first 10 overs of the match to make 15 runs after losing the dangerous Sehwag in the second over.

Fast bowler Stuart Broad, returning to the England side in place of Steve Harmison after missing the first Test with a hamstring injury, struck with his sixth delivery.

Sehwag, Man-of-the-Match in Chennai for his explosive 83 off 68 balls, failed to score as he edged Broad’s outswinger to wicket-keeper Matt Prior.

Dravid, who turns 36 in January, walked in at his usual number three position despite making just 342 runs in his last 10 Tests at an average of 19.

Gambhir lasted the day after escaping twice in the 70s, off-spinner Graeme Swann being the unlucky bowler both times.

Paul Collingwood failed to grasp a sharp chance in the slips as Gambhir edged Swann, before umpire Daryl Harper turned down the bowler’s loud shout for leg-before. Television replays showed the ball heading towards the middle stump.

Gambhir has so far hit 12 boundaries, besides a six off Monty Panesar, while Dravid has seven fours.

Scoreboard

INDIA (1st Innings):

G. Gambhir not out 106

V. Sehwag c Prior b Broad 0

R. Dravid not out 65

EXTRAS (LB-3, NB-5) 8

TOTAL (for one wkt, 72 overs) 179

FALL OF WKT: 1-6.

TO BAT: S.R. Tendulkar, V.V.S. Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, M.S. Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, A. Mishra, I. Sharma.

BOWLING (to-date): Anderson 15-3-29-0 (2nb); Broad 16-7-45-1; Flintoff 13-2-31-0 (3nb); Panesar 13-2-41-0; Swann 15-4-30-0.

ENGLAND: A.J. Strauss, A.N. Cook, I.R. Bell, K.P. Pietersen, P.D. Collingwood, A. Flintoff, M.J. Prior, S.C.J. Broad, G.P. Swann, J.M. Anderson, M.S. Panesar.

UMPIRES: Asad Rauf (Pakistan) and D.J. Harper (Australia).

TV UMPIRE: S.L. Shastri (India).

MATCH REFEREE: J.J. Crowe (New Zealand).—Agencies