England v India: The Lord's Test, Day 5

Day 5. Would England take the 9 required wickets? Would India hold out for a draw? Would Sachin score his 100th 100 and would he finally break his Lord's century duck?

Tickets sold like hot cakes on the gate, as Lord's made adult tickets £20 for the day. Excited fans queued from 2 in the morning in the hope of either seeing something brilliant from England, seeing India pull off a draw or see their hero score a ton:

Some were left disappointed, others left with a seat in the ground. And here's what those people saw!

Dravid spoons one up in the air to Bell at short leg... 

But Bell cannot cling on to the chance...

And it goes begging. 

But Dravid doesn't last for much longer as he edges Jimmy behind...

Where he is caught by Matt Prior.

It's a blow to India as Dravid would've been a key part to their survival of the day. They find themselves 94-2.

But the good news for India is that Quaxman is still there. He gets a four...

And it takes him to a 50. 

However, Quaxman can't go on and build an innings. He mistimes a terrible shot off Jimmy...

And finds the ball nestle in Ian Bell's wings.

India are 131-3 and the next duck in is Sachin.

The majority of people in the crowd are hoping to see history being made, and the ill Tenduckar makes his way to the Lord's middle (in the whites of Test cricket, at least) for probably the last time.

Gambhir and his injured wing don't hang around long.

Swann gets one to hit him pad first...

And Gambhir goes. He's not happy about the decision...

But due to his board and the duck at the other end, he can't review it. India lose their fourth wicket and England are on top. By lunch, India reach 142-4. 

After lunch, Broad gets one to rap into Tenduckar's pad.

Broad and the England team appeal desperately...

But Billy is unmoved. Broad is distraught.

Tenduckar gets another life but this time off the bowling of Anderson.

He somehow gets bat on a delivery from Jimmy and it flies to Strauss at first slip.

Strauss, who's not had the best of times in the slip cordon this match, hides his face as he spills the chance.

But Jimmy is unperturbed. 

Instead, a couple of balls later, he gets Tenduckar plumb LBW.

Billy has no option but to raise his crooked wing of fate and Sachin is on his way for 12.

India are 165-5 and a hero to a nation waddles his way back to the pavilion. 

Suresh Raina does his best to keep the Indian innings together.

He reaches a 50 with a four off Swann.

But unlike Rainia, Captain Dhoni can't keep his concentration. 

He swishes at one outside off stump from Tremlett and is caught behind. Strauss doesn't notice, but the Swanny and Jimmy do.

India are 225-6 and on the ropes.

But there's still time for India, England and Billy Bowden to torment Stuart Broad.

Harbhajan cuts one sharp to Morgan at point. 

But Morgan can't cling on and it allows Harbhajan and Raina a single.

Then Broad bowls a cracking delivery to Raina. Surely he's a goner?

But Billy is not convinced.

And it forces Stuart to have a word during the change of ends.

And Stuart is not at all satisfied with Billy's reasoning for giving it not out.

The Harbhajan drop proves to not be very costly, as Harbhajan is not in the defensive mood.

He mistimes one up in the air...

And is caught by the big duck.

England's celebrations of having India 243-7 do not please Aylesbury Rauf...

So he has a word with the skipper about England running across the pitch.

The match continues, and Broad finally picks up a wicket for all his hard work, by bowling Kumar for 2.

It reduces India to 256-8.

And Jimmy picks up a well deserved five fer as he takes the wicket of Raina.

He bowls a snorter of a delivery that Raina has no choice but to edge behind to Matt Prior.

He goes for 78 and India are 260-9. England are within sight of a 1-0 series lead.

And they get it. Broad gets one to smash into Sharma's pads...

England appeal...

And this time, Billy Beakdon has no choice but to raise his crooked wing of fate and doom India to 261 all out.

England celebrate their victory in the 1999th 2000th Test.

It's a wonderful advert for Test cricket, as the sell out crowd and the people that were turned away prove. Thousands of people wanted to be at Lord's, but couldn't be due to distance or living in a place where the train companies hate them (whistle). Kevin Pietersen is named duck of the match for his double century, but the bowling of Broad in the first innings, both innings of Prior and the five-fer of Jimmy also made the Test fantastic. And for me, the duck of the match was Matt Prior. But that's just me.

Anyway, that's my delayed duck report of the Lord's Test. Massive apologies, as I've been about all over the place in the past few weeks. Day one from Trent Bridge will be up in the next couple of days!