England vs. India, 2nd Test: Despite Ajinkya Rahane-Cheteshwar Pujara's Rescue Act, England Finish Day 4 On Top

Latest updates of Cricket

Monday, 16th August 2021

Mark Wood and Moeen Ali struck late against India at Lord's on Sunday, leaving the second Test tense heading into the final day. The tourists were 181-6 in the second inning, with a 154-run lead, when bad light forced an early end. Wood had removed the in-form KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma at the start of a fourth day of fluctuating fortunes. At 55-3, the visitors were in even more trouble when Sam Curran took the prize wicket of India captain Virat Kohli.

Cheteshwar Pujara (45) and Ajinkya Rahane (61), both of whom had struggled for runs earlier in the series, slowed England's progress, though it took them 59 overs to add exactly 100 for the fourth wicket.

Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan says 'Sare Jahan Se Achcha' on the 75th anniversary of India's independence.

However, after reaching 155-3, India lost three wickets for 20 runs.

Express yourself quickly. Wood removed Pujara before removing Rahane and the dangerous Ravindra Jadeja.

Pujara's 206-ball vigil came to an end when a Wood delivery jumped off a length and was gently lobbed to Root at second slip, leaving India 155-4.

Moeen then bowled Rahane with a superb delivery that turned and bounced to clip the top of the left-off hander's stump.

Wood, who was recalled after Stuart Broad suffered a series-ending calf injury during last week's rain-affected drawn first Test at Trent Bridge, had figures of 3-40 in 14 overs.

However, England was concerned that Wood had a shoulder injury that would need to be evaluated in the morning after diving headfirst into an advertising board while saving a boundary.

Mooen had 2-52 in 20 overs after replacing dropped batsman Dan Lawrence in an attack that was missing star all-rounder Ben Stokes and fast bowler Jofra Archer.

Even though the floodlights were turned on, the umpires appeared to suggest that the game could not continue if England took the new ball in the gathering gloom.

England, on the other hand, did not want to risk conceding runs in those conditions, with Rishabh Pant 14 not out and Ishant Sharma unbeaten on four.

Play resumed on Sunday with England leading by 27 runs, thanks to captain Joe Root's superb 180 not out in his side's first-innings 391.

Rahul and Rohit had contributed 129 and 83 runs respectively to India's first-innings total of 364.

But Rahul fell for five on Sunday after leaving the ball so well this series, when he edged a 93 mph (150 kph) Wood delivery straight into the gloves of wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

Also Read: Highlights from the Coronavirus News: Goa extends the state-wide Covid-19 curfew until August 23, Tamil Nadu records 1,896 new cases

Rohit brought India level with a six off a 91-mph Wood ball. But, just three balls later, despite the fact that three fielders were out for the hook, he was well caught low down by Moeen, who was running in from deep square leg, for 21.

India was now effectively a one-for-two team.

Kohli, who had been in good form, survived a review for lbw on height by left-arm swing bowler Curran.

Still on 20, and seemingly playing for inswinger, Kohli edged a Curran delivery angled across him and was caught behind off a thin nick, prompting the bowler to run joyfully in celebration.

The News Talkie Bureau

Source

NDTV