Umpires keep England in touch

Cricket : England were thankful to a couple of umpiring howlers for keeping India to 316 for four on the first day of the must…

Cricket: England were thankful to a couple of umpiring howlers for keeping India to 316 for four on the first day of the must-win third test at the Oval.

South African official Ian Howell gave out Dinesh Karthik (91) caught behind off Ryan Sidebottom and Sourav Ganguly (37) leg before wicket to Paul Collingwood.

Television replays showed both decisions to be wrong as Karthik missed the ball while Ganguly gained a thick inside edge.

James Anderson struck twice legitimately, however, as England toiled in their bid for victory and to thus avoid a first home series defeat since 2001.