England bowlers once again floor Indian top order, IND trail by 158 runs
.
In response to England’s massive total of 322 runs, India managed to score 174 at a loss of 6 wickets by the end of the second day of the fifth and the final Test at the KIA Oval in London. Debutant Hanuma Vihari remained unbeaten on 25 and was accompanied by Ravindra Jadeja was batting on 8. India is still 158 runs behind the hosts.
After bowling out England for 332 in the second session, India once again faced the problem of having a good start from the openers. In the second over of the Indian innings, Shikhar Dhawan fell prey to Stuart Broad and India lost their first wicket at a score of 4.
— Gentlemen's Game (@DRVcricket) September 8, 2018
An early shock was enough to push the Indians in the pressure situation but Rahul and Pujara held the nerve till the tea break.
After resuming the innings after tea at 53/1, the duo took a bit more ahead before Rahul was cleanly bowled out by young Sam Curran in the 23rd over. He ended up scoring 37 off 53 balls.
— Gentlemen's Game (@DRVcricket) September 8, 2018
The next two wickets came handy for England. Cheteshwar Pujara (37) and Ajinkya Rahane (0) were removed by James Anderson in the 33rd and 35th over respectively.
After the departure of Indian top order, the responsibility came over the shoulders of skipper Virat Kohli yet again. While he continued his brave batting against the English bowlers, he had a support from the other end in the form of debutant Hanuma Vihari.
Vihari, who possesses the highest first-class batting average, took some time to get settled at the crease. Soon, he became used to the conditions and showcased some patient batting. There were moments when he was trapped into some strong appeals made by the Englishmen but he had the luck factor with him.
— Gentlemen's Game (@DRVcricket) September 8, 2018
The pair of Vihari and Kohli added 51 runs for the fifth wicket before the Indian skipper, unfortunately, missed his 20th Test fifty. He was removed by Ben Stokes while he was batting on 49. Kohli’s wicket came as a huge setback for India as half of the team was back in the dressing room and the team was reduced to 154/5.
— Gentlemen's Game (@DRVcricket) September 8, 2018
Rishabh Pant came at the crease and joined Vihari but once again failed to create an impact in his debut series. After scoring only 5 runs, he turned out to be the last wicket India lost on the second day.
England all-out for 332
England were bowled out for 332 in their first innings on the second day of the fifth and final Test rubber against India at the Oval here on Saturday.
England batsmen Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid resumed their innings at 198 for 7 on the second day. After the addition of just 16 runs to their overnight score, the hosts received the first blow as Jadeja caught Rashid (15) in front of the stumps.
Buttler was then joined by Broad and the duo denied the visiting bowlers any further success as they fought back with a 90-run partnership to help England reach 304/8 at lunch.
Resuming the post-lunch session from 304/8, the hosts could only manage to add another 28 runs as Jadeja struck twice to wrap up England.
Two overs after the play resumed in the afternoon session, Jadeja came with a much-needed breakthrough for India, breaking the crucial 98-run partnership between Stuart Broad (38) and Buttler. Broad while trying to drive a length ball by Jadeja over mid-on, handed a sensational catch to Lokesh Rahul with the host's scorecard reading 312/9.
Jadeja then also ended the English innings, sending back a well-settled Buttler, who was racing towards his ton. Looking for a big shot on a length ball, which turned a bit, a thick edge off Buttler's bat landed in the hands of Ajinkya Rahane at the slip.
Opener Alastair Cook (71), Jos Buttler (89) and Moeen Ali (50) starred with the bat to help their side reach a respectable total. Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers, claiming four English wickets for 79 runs. Apart from Jadeja, pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Ishant Sharma shared three wickets each conceding 83 and 62 runs respectively.
Brief Scores:
England: 304 for 8 in 115 overs (Alastair Cook 71, Jos Buttler 63 not out; Ishant Sharma 3/62, Jasprit Bumrah 3/64).
India: 174 for 6 in 51 overs (Virat Kohli 49, KL Rahul 37, Hanuma Vihari 25 not out; James Anderson 2/20).
Trending News
Top Headlines
