INTRODUCTION: Cricket...and the England touring team won their first ever test match in Calcutta to go two up after the first two matches in the series against India on Thursday (6 January). They owned their victory as much to captain Tony Greig as anybody. On a difficult Calcutta pitch almost bare of grass, Greig scored an uncharacteristically show, but determined, century.

SYNOPSIS: Greig stood at 94 not out when the fourth day started on Wednesday. he took only three balls to score the last six runs for his hundred -- the four which bought up the century coming off Indian spinner Bhaghat Chandrasekhar
But Greig made only three more before off spinner Prasanna made one turn appreciably to catch Greig leg before wicket -- his 103 runs had taken almost seven hours to make, a slow but valuable innings.

England were now trying to get some quick runs to capitalise on the lead they had so painstakingly built up. Fast bowler Chris Old had taken part in a stand of over fifty with Greig and & single from him brought up the 300 for England with seven wickets down. New cap John Lever, who had a major hand in England winning the first test, did not last long this time. He was caught by Gavaskar off the Indian captain Bedi for two, but Old went on to bring up his fifty -- and with a lead of over 150, England were confident they could make the most of their first innings advantage on the difficult pitch.

English spin bowler Derek Underwood was the last English wicket to fall -- caught by Gavaskar off Bedi. When the Indian second innings started a little later Underwood was one of the first among the wickets, bowling Gavaskar for 18. By the time England fast bowler Bob Willis, here, had Solkar caught behind by Knott, India were 5 for 70 and heading for certain defeat.