Visakhapatnam: Virat Kohli and Co. would be very happy with second day Performance here in Vizag. They did not begin the day on the best note as Moeen Ali picked three wickets in the first session, including Kohli's wicket, who departed on 167.
R Ashwin and debutant Jayant Yadav chipped in for India as they were restricted for 455. England started off their innings in the worst possible way. Mohammed Shami splintered Alastair Cook's stump into two. Youngster Haseeb Hameed was run out in a MS Dhoni-esque style by Wriddhiman Saha.
It was Ashwin's show there onwards, the spinner got Ben Duckett out with a beautiful off-spin delivery, and removed the well settled Joe Root with a delivery that drifted away from the right handed batsman.
Jayant Yadav dismissed Moeen Ali LBW to clinch his maiden Test wicket. The visitors still trail India by 352 runs and would be hoping to put up a better performance on day 3.
England 103/5 from 49 Overs:
That's the end of second day's play here in Vizag. India end the day in a very strong position, well assisted by their spinners.
England 92/5 from 43.1 Overs:
Ravindra Jadeja was very close their. Ben Stokes plays a forward defense, the ball misses the bat and was collected by Saha. There was some noise and the bowler thought he had his man. Umpire wasn't convinced, India went for the review. Replays, however, showed that the ball missed the ball completely. Stokes survives.
England 80/5 from 34.2 overs:
Out! Jayant Yadav picks up his first wicket in Test cricket. Moeen Ali, out LBW. It was given not out by the umpire, but the Indian team reviewed it and the original decision was overturned.
England 79/4 from 31.5 overs:
Big Wicket! Joe Root departs. India have got the big fish, and it's Ashwin who has done the magic for the hosts. Poor batting by Root, who is dismissed on 53. The batsman came down the pitch, mishits the ball to long-off and Umesh Yadav takes the catch.
England 72/3 from 28 overs:
WICKET! Ben Duckett's struggle against the spin continues. Ashwin has disturbed the timber and the young England left-hander has no clue what has happened. India on a roll. England are losing their way.
England 51/2 from 21 overs:
WICKET! Jayant Yadav and Saha have pulled off a stunner. Hameed gets out run out. Root dabbed one to the leg-side. Completed a single and then the mess up begun. Yadav does a brilliant job to slide and throw the ball back while on the move. The throw is not powerful but the quick release means the batsmen are under pressure. Saha does it brilliantly to pick up the ball and throw it back onto the stumps. Hameed dives but he is well short of his crease by the time the bails are dislodged. Indian fielding have helped them earn this wicket.
England 34/1 from 16 overs:
Tea interval! Joe Root and Haseeb Hameed have made sure England did not lose another wicket before players head into tea break. Indian bowlers meanwhile have done a commendable job to keep testing the England batsmen. Interesting final session ahead.
England 6/1 from 3 overs:
WICKET! Mohammed Shami, that was an absolute ripper! Alastair Cook was set up beautifully with outswingers and then Shami bowls one which did Cook in. The ball broke through Cook's defence and broke the off-stump. Bails go flying, Shami is celebrating, Kohli is pumped. India off to a flying start.
India 455 all out
Adil Rashid has scalped the last two wickets as he dismissed Jayant Yadav (35) and Umesh Yadav (13) to end the Indian innings for 455. India were struggling on day 2 when they were 7 down for 363. But the 64-run stand between Ashwin and Jayant have paved way for India crossing the 450-run mark.
India 427/8 from 124 overs
WICKET! Ben Stokes has ended R Ashwin-Jayant Yadav partnership as Ashwin edged one to Jonny Bairstow. The number world all-rounder in Test rankings played another useful hand with the bat as he scored 58.
India 415/7 from 119 overs:
LUNCH! R Ashwin and Jayant Yadav, on Test debut, has dashed England's plans to end Indian innings before lunch. After Moeen Ali's triple strike to leave India 363/7, Ashwin and Jayant have put up an unbeaten 52-run stand. Ashwin is batting on 47 while Jayant is on 26.
India 365/7 from 105 overs:
WICKETS! Moeen Ali is on a roll here. Two wickets in an over. First he trapped Saha before the wickets and then followed it up Ravindra Jadeja's wicket after the ball hit his pads. Jadeja consulted Ashwin over a review. Ashwin said no. Replays suggest Jadeja should have gone ahead with the review.
India 355/5 from 101 overs:
WICKET! Moeen Ali strikes. A big wicket for England as Virat Kohli departs after scoring 167. Ben Stokes had dropped R Ashwin on the previous ball but made up for it by taking a sharp catch to end Kohli's stay in the middle. A fine knock from the Indian skipper.
India 340/4 from 96 overs:
Virat Kohli and R Ashwin have made sure England don’t enjoy early success on day two. While Ashwin top edged a Stuart Broad delivery, it did not cost India a wicket. Kohli on the other hand, has remained solid and played a few pretty strokes.
Visakhapatnam: Virat Kohli (151 not out) and R Ashwin will resume the second day’s play as India aim to score big and put England under pressure in the second Test on Friday in Visakhapatnam.
England, on the other hand, will be hoping to turn things around after a tough day’s play on Thursday.
With the pitch likely to turn from day two, India scoring heavily in the first innings would lay a solid foundation for India’s spin trio of R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and the Test debutant Jayant Yadav.
India on day one did not enjoy brightest of the starts after Stuart Broad and James Anderson sent openers KL Rahul and Murali Vijay packing early in the first session.
However, Cheteshwar Pujara and Kohli made sure England did not cash in on bright start as the duo put up 226-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Although India lost Pujara and Rahane in the final session day one, scoring 317 runs for the loss of four wickets have put the hometeam in driver’s seat.
