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Just for little while, it seemed the almost impossible was becoming the merely unlikely.As Alastair Cook and Haseeb Hameed resisted for 50 overs, it seemed England really might be able to defy India in the sort of conditions English players grow up to fear. The last 10 overs - and most of all, that last ball - were a harsh way to wake from the dream.This has been an odd game. Whatever happens on the final day - and victory for India remains highly likely - England will leave Visakhapatnam encouraged by their performance. There seems every chance that this will turn out to be that most British of things: a heartening defeat. Really, it might be the most heartening defeat for years.Why? Because theyve proved (to themselves as much as any of us watching) that they can compete in such conditions. Theyve shown that they have the character and skill to cope with losing the toss and playing against good bowlers in turning conditions. And, just as importantly, theyve shown they can claw their way back into games from unpromising situations. You could make a strong argument that they have had the best of days three and four. Its just the damage inflicted on days one and two was too deep.They have learned several useful lessons, too. They have learned, or been reminded, they cannot afford even half a bad session in such circumstances. So the loss of their first five first-innings wicket before the end of the second evening - a couple of them to somewhat soft strokes - was a setback from which they have never been allowed to recover. The footwork has to be more certain; the techniques more solid. They cannot afford a bad hour here.And, while there are no easy answers to dealing with Virat Kohli - he has looked magnificent in this series - England will reflect on the chance he offered when on 56 in the first innings and know that, had they been better organised and had a better fielder than Adil Rashid in position for the hook trap, the whole complexion of this game might have been different. It was a fleeing moment, certainly, but that may well prove to be as good an opportunity as England find in this series. If they are going to win, they have to seize such moments.They may rue the tenth-wicket stand of 42 they conceded on Sunday, too. A target of 363 in 160 overs would, perhaps, have been scarcely less daunting in practical terms. But in terms of morale? Final-wicket stands drain and dispirit like little else. While England hardly bowled a poor delivery in the first 100 minutes or so of the day, when they took six for 64, they may reflect that, just for a few minutes, they then allowed their concentration to drift and were punished for it.Generally, though, since Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes resumed on the third morning, there has been much to admire about this England performance. Stuart Broad has never bowled better in India, Rashid has never bowled better in Test cricket and, for all the praise lavished upon Indias spinners, Rashid and Moeen Ali have better bowling averages and strike rates than R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja at this stage in the series.But perhaps it was the performance of Hameed that provided most cause for encouragement. For the second Test in succession, Hameed demonstrated a calm temperament in an unhurried display that belied his 19-years. It took an almost impossible ball, one that kept horribly low, to dismiss him.These were desperately tough circumstances for Hameed. On a pitch offering turn and, most pertinently, variable bounce, he was tested in just about every way a batsman can be tested. Indias seamers examined his discomfort against the short ball and Indias spinners examined his ability to play the turning ball.His struggles against short-pitched bowlingt will have had fast bowlers around the world taking note. Whatever he achieves in the next few weeks, it is inevitable now that Hameed will be on the receiving end of many bouncers when he comes up against West Indies, South Africa and Australia. And they will almost always be directed at him on quicker, livelier tracks than this.There was talk of this potential weakness before he arrived in India. He was troubled by Surreys fast bowlers (Stuart Meaker and Mark Footitt) in the English summer and by Taskin Ahmed in Bangladesh.Here he was struck on the hand by the first delivery he faced - he later received treatment on his little finger, but the England camp played down any serious damage - after taking his eye off a fine, head-high bouncer from Mohammed Shami and took two more deliveries in the rib area. He wore a chest guard in this innings, but he may have a bruise or two for the rest of this week.But, whether he had been hit or not, he was right back in line for the next delivery. And whether hit or not, he was right forward to the next delivery as required. Theres no question of courage with Hameed, he is just learning to deal with that line of attack. The challenge confronting him might be compared to that confronting Ben Stokes and spin. Stokes overcame that challenge; how Hameed manages may well define how far he progresses in international cricket.There were, in all, nine deliveries that might reasonably be described as bouncers directed at Hameed. While his inclination seems to be to sway out of the way, he also ducked once and played the ball from in front of his face straight into the ground on other occasions. Short-leg was never in business and the two men out for the hook seemed utterly redundant. It was painful, but he survived.The manner in which he dealt with spin was even more impressive. Having been dismissed in Rajkot by Ashwin bowling around the wicket, he has resolved to watch the ball harder and be even more precise in his foot movement. He leaves the ball well outside off stump and gets further forward than most to smother the spin.While other batsmen - and not just young batsmen - might have become uncomfortable with the slow rate of scoring, Hameed looked supremely unworried. And while other batsmen might have allowed the match situation to play on their mind, Hameed seemed to enjoy the prospect of five sessions of crease occupation. Where else would he rather be?Every day, in every way (it was Hameed who was most insistent that England should utilise their review which resulted in KL Rahul being given out) he seems to be growing more comfortable with this level and the environment of the England team. This was a terrifically tough day and he came through it bruised but unbowed. It was another step forward in his development.It is for such reasons that, whatever happens on Monday, England will leave Visakhapatnam with spirits and heads high. They are learning and improving all the time. Fjallraven Kanken Sale . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. Fjallraven Kanken Mini Cheap . Two pressure cooker bombs exploded near the finish line of the April 15 race in an area packed with fans cheering the passing runners. Three people were killed and more than 260 injured, including at least 16 who lost limbs. http://www.fjallravenkankencheap.com/fjallraven-kanken-mini.html .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. Fjallraven Kanken Mini Sale . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Kanken Backpack Sale . Now tied for second in the league in shootout goals, the 24-year-old likes to see what the opposing goaltender has in store before he ultimately lands on a move. COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Trevor Knight got a tip from assistant coach Jim Turner before facing fourth down from the 1-yard line in overtime in Texas A&Ms 31-24 victory over No. 16 UCLA on Saturday.The offensive line coach noticed how UCLAs defense had approached several plays and told Knight what he should do.Coach Turner said ... youre going to have an opportunity to pull this ball and walk it into the end zone, Knight said.And thats exactly what he did.Knight threw for 239 yards and a touchdown and ran for two more scores, including that one in overtime to lead Texas A&M past UCLA in his debut with the Aggies.Texas A&M sealed the victory when Justin Evans knocked down Josh Rosens pass at the goal line on fourth down.All Im thinking is: `Man, Ive got to make a play. Ive got to make a play, Evans said. He threw it up. I went up for it and made a play.Knight, a graduate transfer from Oklahoma, outplayed Rosen.Rosen threw three interceptions while working under heavy pressure from a defense led by Myles Garrett.The Aggies looked to have this one wrapped up when they led by 15 in the fourth quarter after using two third-quarter touchdowns.But UCLAs offense finally got going after that, scoring twice in two minutes with the second one coming on a 62-yard pass by Rosen to cut it two 2. A 2-point conversion after that TD tied it with 2:39 remaining.The Bruins were driving again after a third straight punt by A&M when Evans intercepted Rosens pass for the second time to give A&M a chance to win it in regulation.But Knights pass was knocked down in the end zone to force overtime.I took too long to get going, and that cant happen, Rosen said. Its a quarterback-driven sport, and you cant have a quarterback play that bad in the first half. Its completely unacceptable.Knight wasnt the only former Sooner to shine for the Aggies on Saturday. Running back Keith Ford had a touchdown and 65 of A&Ms 203 yards rushing in his first game since setting out a year following his transfer frrom Oklahoma.ddddddddddddNO CONVERSATIONGarrett, who led the Southeastern Conference with 12 1/2 sacks last season, had a sack, 1 1/2 tackles for losses and two quarterback hurries on Saturday. He was asked if Rosen said anything to him.We didnt have any chit chat. There was no trash talk, Garrett said. I just knew I was going to be in his face a lot.THE TAKEAWAYUCLA: Rosen will have to make better decisions and the Bruins need to shore up an offensive line that allowed five sacks on Saturday to get back on track and win the Pac-12s South division as they were predicted to do.TEXAS A&M: Coach Kevin Sumlin will certainly have plenty for Knight to work on after seeing him in game action for the first time with the Aggies. But his solid performance along with the excellent outing by the running game answered some questions about an offense that lost quarterbacks Kyle Allen and Kyler Murray to transfers and got a new offensive coordinator in Noel Mazzone this offseason.POLL IMPLICATIONSUCLA: The Bruins will likely fall a few spots in the poll because of the loss, but should remain ranked thanks to the comeback that forced overtime.Texas A&M: The Aggies were receiving the second-most votes among teams not ranked in the preseason poll, so they should enter the poll next week thanks to the win and several losses among ranked teams on opening weekend.UP NEXTUCLA: The Bruins meet UNLV for just the second time next Saturday in their home opener.TEXAS A&M: The Aggies stay home again next week when theyll face FCS opponent Prairie View, which is just 50 miles away, for the first time.LAST WORD:Proud of our guys to get the win, but the way things happened weve got a lot to work on, Sumlin said. We kind of went to sleep at the wheel there early in the fourth quarter. We cant have lapses like that.---AP College Football website: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '