England fought back on the second day of the Lord’s Test to dismiss India on 364 thanks to an Anderson 5-fer and stayed in the game with a decent batting performance on the back of Burns, Root forties.
The second day of the second Test between England and India at Lord’s went England’s way as they dismissed India’s last seven wickets for 88 runs from their overnight score and added 119 runs on the board for three down. However, with 245 runs ahead, India still have a strong hold over the match.
India started the Day 2 with a clear goal to put a massive score on the board and bat England out of the match. That said, things didn’t start well for the visitors as they lost their centurion KL Rahul on the second ball of the day.
Rahul drove a gentle half volley from Ollie Robinson but failed to keep it down, handing Sibley an easy catch at covers to end his spectacular knock of 129. Ajinkya Rahane (1) followed him on the first delivery of the next over as he poked at a James Anderson delivery on a length outside off and edged it to Root at first slip.
India were 282/5 and were in danger of bundling out quickly with that long tail to follow. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja joined hands to push the score further. Jadeja was at his best with defensive technique while Pant played his natural game at the other end.
The duo stitched together a 49-run stand, where Pant played some audacious shots, scoring 37 off 58. Pant tried to slash at one angled across delivery by Wood only to nick it to the keeper. Mohammed Shami was the next as he fell to a soft dismissal against Moeen Ali.
Ishant Sharma stuck around with Jadeja to add 26 runs for the eighth wicket before Anderson struck twice to register his 31st five-wicket haul. Jadeja was the last man to go as he tried to pull Wood only to top edge it to mid-on, finishing India’s first innings on 364.
Although England did a great job to restrict India under 400, their batters had a huge task ahead of them. The opening duo of Rory Burns and Dom Sibley batted cautiously, defended well for 14 overs before the latter fell to a leg-side trap to chip one at short mid-wicket – a dismissal similar to his Trent Bridge one.
Haseeb Hameed, who waited for five years for his comeback to the English side, walked in next. But the sport can be cruel, and Hameed experienced it first hand as his feet went nowhere, and he missed a straight full delivery by Mohammed Siraj to walk back with a golden duck.
England were reduced to 23/2, in came Joe Root – their best batter, the man in form. After a fiery spell from Siraj, Root and Burns brought England’s innings back on track. Burns, once settled, played some delightful strokes, and so did captain Root. The duo put on an 85-run stand for the third wicket.
But just when it looked like they could end the day with the game in the balance, India struck a late blow. Shami bowled a terrific delivery that hit the seam and jagged back in to pin Burns right in front of the stumps just one run short of his fifty. A review could not save Burns as England lost their third wicket on 108.
Jonny Bairstow joined the skipper in the middle and looked secured with his improved technique. Apart from a short period where Siraj troubled him, Root looked fluent at the crease to end the day on unbeaten 48. The third day of the Test will be crucial for both teams as England would be desperate to get as close to India’s total as possible, while India would be looking to get a big first innings lead.
Brief Scores
India – 364 in 126.1 overs (Rahul 129, Rohit 83; Anderson 5/62, Robinson 2/73)
England – 119/3 in 45 overs (Burns 49, Root 48*; Siraj 2/34, Shami 1/22) trail by 245 runs.
