England captain Alastair Cook encouraged by first Test fightback against India
Last Updated: November 19, 2012 12:24pm
Alastair Cook: Given hope by second-innings fightback
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Alastair Cook insisted that England's second-innings fightback in Ahmedabad gives them encouragement heading into the second Test against India.
Captain Cook led from the front with a magnificent 176 to force the first Test into a fifth day after England had followed on trailing by 330 on first innings and then slumped to 199-5.
Cook and Matt Prior (91) held up the India charge, but they added only 16 runs on the final morning before their stand of 157 came to an end and England lost the last five wickets for only 50 as they subsided to 406 all out.
India took only 15.3 overs to knock off the 77 required for the loss of only Virender Sehwag, and Cook said afterwards: "There was an outside chance this morning.
"Matty and I knew we would have to do the majority of the work. We got closer and closer and knew India had done a huge amount of overs in the field as well.
"That was the inspiration this morning. It wasn't meant to be. We didn't get that partnership going as we did last night. But there was a lot of character showed by the lads. They fought hard.
"It was a great fightback. We were in a very tough situation and to get to the last day there is always a glimmer of hope. It had to be something very special - unfortunately it wasn't meant to be.
"We fought hard - we can take a lot from the second half of that game with the batting. We need to work hard so when we go to Mumbai we can start again."
