India vs England 2nd Test Day 3: Vijay's gutsy 50 takes India's lead to 145
19 July 2014 7:58 PM IST
Opener plays an important knock to keep team alive in this match
India's Murali Vijay plays a shot off the bowling of England's James Anderson during the third day of the second test match between England and India at Lord's cricket ground in London (Photo: AP)
London: India lost three wickets in quicksuccession but fought back through Murali Vijay's gutsy half-century to take their overall lead to 145, leaving the second cricket Test against England interestingly poised, at Lord's.
At stumps on third day, India were 169 for four despite a solid 78-run second wicket stand between Vijay (59 batting) and Cheteshwar Pujara (43). Vijay is in company of skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who survived a hostile spell from Stuart Broad to remain undefeated on 12 off 51 balls having added crucial 46 runs with Vijay for the fifth wicket.
The Tamil Nadu opener has shown tremendous patience during his 190-ball knock today which had seven fours but more impressive was his decisiveness while leaving deliveries outside the off-stump.
With England batting deep, it will be interesting to see what kind of target is set by the Indian batsmen. India will be aiming for a lead of 250 plus in order to make a match of it on a Lord's track which will then help Bhuvneshwar Kumar and co. to exploit the conditions.
It was 6/82 was the main reason for India getting England out for 319 in their first innings thereby restricting the first innings lead to 24.
Kumar walks off with figures of 6/82, well bowled young man #EngvInd https://t.co/TJ1sjizJAF
— Lord's Ground (@HomeOfCricket) July 19, 2014From a relatively comfortable 118 for one, India were reduced to 123 for four in a space of three overs. First innings centurion Ajinkya Rahane then got a howler from umpire Bruce Oxenford as a rising delivery from Stuart Broad hit his arm-guard before lobbing up as Matt Prior ran from his position to dive forward and complete a catch.
( Source : PTI )
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