Ind vs Eng, 2nd Test Day 3: India lead by 298 runs, England on backfoot
Visakhapatnam: After R Ashwin helped India gain 200-run lead, Virat Kohli’s unbeaten half-century made sure that the hometeam consolidated their position on Saturday in the second Test against England in Visakhapatnam.
The Indian tweaker secured his 22nd five-wicket haul as India bundled out England for 255. While Stokes and Bairstow were resilient in the first session, Umesh Yadav dismissed the England wicketkeeper to give India a much needed breakthrough on day three of the Test.
Ashwin, in the post lunch session, then ran through England’s lower order.
India did not enjoy brightest of start in the second innings as Stuart Broad, who underwent scans following an injury to right foot, removed Murali Vijay and KL Rahul cheaply. James Anderson joined the party as he disturbed the timber to send Cheteshwar Pujara packing.
India could have been in a deep if not for Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane’s unbeaten 58-run partnership. While England bowlers tested Rahane, Kohli batted with supreme ease as India stretched their lead to 298 runs at the close of play.
India 98/3 from 34 overs:
Stumps! India have had their share of troubles but Virat Kohli has made sure that India consolidate their position in the second Test.
India 84/3 from 28 overs:
Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane are doing a fine job rebuilding Indian innings. While Rahane was tested for a while, Kohli has looked at ease even on the pitch that is having a variable bounce.
India 40/3 from 17 overs:
WICKET! Absolute ripper from James Anderson! Cheteshwar Pujara is done in by a beauty of a delivery from Anderson. The ball goes through Pujara's bat and pad and disturbed the timber. England are on a roll here.
India 23/2 from 11 overs:
WICKET! Broad is on a roll here and another successful review for England. The ball has just brushed his bat, the umpire could not hear it. Cook too was not too convinced. England went ahead with the review trusting Broad, Hameed and Stokes. Decision overturned. KL Rahul has to go. Not a good start on the comeback.
India 16/1 from 9 overs:
WICKET! Stuart Broad strikes. Murali Vijay departs. The ball kissed Vijay's bat before hitting his pads and looping it near the slip cordon where Joe Root took the catch. On-field umpire had adjudged it against England, they took a review and had the decision overturned.
India 8/0 from 6 overs
Tea break! Indian openers KL Rahul and Murali Vijay have survived a tricky period of six over before tea interval. The duo will want to bat long and consolidate India's position in post tea session. India will lead by 208 runs.
England 255 all out
WICKETS! R Ashwin has wrapped up England's innings as he dismisses Stuart Broad and James Anderson on successive deliveries. He completes another five-wicket haul in Tests and will be on a hat-trick as India bowl for the second time in the game. India have decided not to enforce the follow-on.
England 234/8 from 96 overs:
WICKET! Ravindra Jadeja gets his first wicket. Zafar Ansari misses a straight delivery, wrapped onto his pads and on-field umpires says it is out. Ansari reviews the decision. But in vain.
England 225/7 from 91 overs:
WICKET! Ashwin strikes, Ben Stokes has to go. Kumar Dharamasena adjudged Stokes out. The Englishman opted for a review. The third umpire was not convinced whether the ball touched the bat before it hit the pads. And he decided to stay with on-field umpire's decision. England 7 down.
England 190/6 from 79 overs:
WICKET! Umesh Yadav has given India their first breakthrough on day three. Bairstow tried to play across the line and the ball hits his pads before disturbing the timber.
England 179/5 from 73 overs:
Bairstow and Stokes are putting up a solid fight as India continue to search for wickets on day three. Stokes, riding his luck, has notched up yet another fifty.
England 138/5 from 60 overs:
India misused a review, Saha missed a stumping chance to end Ben Stokes' innings and Jonny Bairstow edged a delivery to bisect the slip cordon. While India have had their chances, England have not lost a wicket in the first 45 minutes of play on day three of the second Test.
Preview:
After being reduced to 103/5 on day two and trailing by 352 runs, England have an uphill task at hand on day three of the second Test against India in Visakhapatnam on Saturday.
England will resume the proceedings with a hope that Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow would turn the tide and push the Virat Kohli-led Indian side on the backfoot. But the first target they would have on their mind is to avoid follow-on.
However, it won’t be an easy as they will be up against the spin troika of R Ashwin, Jayant Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja. The showing of Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav on day two, Indian pacers would make England’s job even more difficult.
After Moeen Ali ran through India’s lower middle order on Friday, England had a chance to wrap up Indian innings before the hometeam could go past 400-run mark. However, a partnership between R Ashwin and Jayant Yadav, on Test debut, dashed England’s plans and helped India to 455 runs.
