New Delhi: Indian openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma added 43 runs in 16 overs for the first wicket to steady India after England took a sizeable 99-run first innings lead on Day 2 of India vs England Oval Test on Friday. India trail by 56 runs going into Day 3. The visitors will aim to make the most of batting-friendly Oval track and attain a bigger lead. Tomorrow, the Indian openers will look to play out the new ball and not give England early wickets.
Things looked pretty tough and grim for England in the morning session when Umesh Yadav kicked off Day 2 by departing both overnight batsmen Craig Overton and Dawid Malan cheaply. The hosts were struggling at 62/5 when some middle and lower order partnerships helped them pull themselves back into the game and take a sizable 99-run lead.
Ollie Pope not only top-scored for England with a hard-fought 81 but also forged two solid partnerships with Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali for sixth and seventh wicket to steady England's innings and tailender Chris Woakes played a similar knock like Shardul Thakur by scoring a fifty to stretch England's lead closer to 100-run mark before getting bowled out for 290 runs. Umesh Yadav, playing his first Test in the series, was the pick of Indian bowlers while Bumrah and Jadeja bagged two wickets apiece.
England's playing XI: Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Joe Root (c), Ollie Pope, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes, Craig Overton, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson.
India's playing XI: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.