India versus England 2nd Test 4th Day: Match heading towards brilliant finish
It was an amazing day’s of cricket as both teams fought for each run as Rahane and Pujara showed great fight played at Lords, London on Sunday.
The Indian openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma started off
cautiously against James Anderson and Robinson. Rohit got the first boundary
for India with a firm push down the ground. England captain Joe Root decided to
bring Mark Wood into the attack replacing Robinson. Wood got into the attack
getting rid of KL Rahul with good sharp delivery providing an easy catch to
Buttler.
Rohit Sharma looked in decent touch and put England bowlers
under some pressure. He pulled Mark Wood for a six before being caught by Moeen
Ali trying to replicate the same shot. The Indian captain Virat Kohli got off
the mark with a lovely boundary. Cheteshwar Pujara struggled but opened his
account on the 35th delivery. Kohli played some cracking shots to
provide some hopes for India. Virat Kohli survived close LBW shout, but the decision was upheld. Curran then stunned visitors with a massive wicket of
Kohli who played a loose shot. Ajiyanka Rahane and Pujara survived few anxious
moments as India ended the first session at 56 for 3.
The second session saw Rahane and Pujara show rock-solid
defense making the England bowlers toil. Both showed great skills against good,
disciplined bowling and hit bad balls away for boundaries. It was an amazing
display of grit and determination by the experienced batsmen. India went into
the tea break with scoreboard reading 105 for 3.
Pujara and Rahane played cautiously initially keeping the
scoreboard ticking. England dropped a chance as Bairstow dropped catch chance
off Rahane. Rahane and Pujara showed their class making life tough for the
England bowlers. England captain Root decided to review the decision for LBW but
was retained. Rahane looked composed and reached well-deserved fifty off 125
balls. Pujara and Rahane kept rotating the scoreboard.
Mark Wood produced a snorter to dismiss well-set Pujara
ending 100 runs partnership for the 4th wicket. Wood went off the
field as he injured his shoulder while saving runs. Moeen Ali troubled Indian
batsmen dismissing Rahane with a good catch by Buttler and then produced a
stunning delivery to get rid of Jadeja.
Rishabh Pant looked composed and played the England spinners
brilliantly. As England decided to take the 2nd new ball, bad light
stopped further play. India ended the fourth day at 181 for 6 with a lead of
154 runs.
India 364 in 126.1 overs ( KL Rahul 129, Rohit Sharma 83,
Kohli 42, James Anderson 5/62, Robinson 2/71) and 181 for 6 in 82 overs (
Rahane 61, Pujara 45, Mark Wood 3/40, Moeen Ali 2/52) lead England 391 in 128
overs (Root 180*, Bairstow 57, Siraj 4/94, Sharma 3/69) by 154 runs.
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