#OTD in 2007: Kumble scored his only century in Test cricket at Oval

Anil Kumble celebrating his hundred

On this day, fifteen years ago, Anil Kumble hit his first-ever Test century against England in the third fixture of the England Tour at The Oval. In this pursuit, he became the oldest Indian player (36 years and 296 days) to score a maiden red-ball hundred. 

The Indian team were coming into the final game on the back of a confidence-boosting seven-wicket win in the second fixture and were leading the series 1-0. 

India takes a mammoth lead in first innings

On a flat surface with the sun beating down hard, all the Indian batters made hay in the first two days of the game. 

Dinesh Karthik (91) and Sachin Tendulkar (82) emerged as the key run-scorers on the first day. Then, MS Dhoni fell eight runs short of his century.  The talented spinner Kumble was flawless with his shots over the covers and the point regions to the pacers, and charged towards the spinners. 

He got to his hundred with a bottom edge off Kevin Pietersen, which went for a boundary. 

Afterwards, India were dismissed for a total of 664, and Kumble remained unbeaten on 110. In response, England could score only 345, with the top contribution of 63 from Ian Bell. 

Kumble and Zaheer Khan took three wickets apiece to help India get a lead of 319 runs. 

England produce a fightback, but India wins the series

In the second innings, Sourav Ganguly top-scored with 57, and India declared on 180/6, and posed a target of 500 for the hosts. 

The Three Lions were terrific with their composure for the remaining 110 overs of the play, and ended on 369/6, with Pietersen slamming a century. 

However, India won the series 1-0, and Kumble was awarded Player of the Match for his contribution of 110 runs and five wickets across the game. 

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