Jelly Beans

Who would have ever imagined a couple of innocuous pink jelly beans playing a part in what should end as a memorable Indian Test win? Zaheer Khan, India's lone gunman with the ball, admitted that England's prank last evening was "insulting" and acted as a spur for his swing-bowling heroics in the second innings.

"When I was batting, there were some jelly beans on the crease, so I chucked one off the wicket," he said. "When I played the next ball there were again some jelly beans on the wicket. So obviously there was someone throwing it on the wicket, which I didn't like. So I just went up to them and said, 'Guys, what's this all about. I'm here to play cricket.' And they came at me. And I just sort of felt upset. And I just reacted."

Fired up, Zaheer sparkled alone. He snaffled up wickets in the morning and swung the match India's way with the second new ball. On a day when the rest veered from the erratic to the listless, Zaheer waltzed. Was it easy controlling the swing? "I'm happy that the ball was swinging in conditions that were so good for batting," he grinned. "I don't mind controlling the swing as a bowler. If it's swinging, that's enough."