| 0.0 : ... Day 1, Session 1 ... |
| Hola! We're here at Rose Bowl, Southampton for the fourth Test between England and India. After two one-sided and one closely fought Test, it's time for the fourth game of the Pataudi series. The contest still favours the hosts but the tide has been changing slowly but surely. England have made a few changes to the playing XI with Sam Curran and Moeen Ali coming in for Ollie Pope and Chris Woakes. For the visitors, their side looks settled and there doesn't seem to be any need for changes. Howev |
| Pitch Report - Sanjay Manjrekar reports from the pitch and states that it looks flawless, the best one of the series so far. Feels that there is nothing to suggest any uneven pace or bounce. Mentions there is an even covering of grass throughout the surface. Reckons some dryness might come into play after the first couple of days. Admits that the opening batsmen will have their work cut out in the first hour or two, when the ball may do a bit. Reckons the captain who wins the toss should bat fir |
| Toss - England win the toss and will bat. |
| England captain, Joe Root says that he wants to take advantage of the pitch. Adds that there are some changes as Chris Woakes is injured so Sam Curran replaces him and Moeen Ali comes in as well in place of Ollie Pope as he has played some great cricket in the last couple of weeks. Further adds that Moeen Ali is a good player and he will be looking to make things work. Implies that Jonny Bairstow has some niggle but he will be fine to bat at number four. Ends by saying that after Trent Bridge, t |
| India captain, Virat Kohli says that he wanted to bat first as well. He reckons that the pitch looks good for batting. Implies that it looks hard and in the first 20-25 minutes, they will look to extract something out of it. Further adds that for the first time in a long time, they are going with an unchanged squad. Asserts that there are some niggles but those have been neglected. Further says that Ravichandran Ashwin is fit so there was no need to make any changes. Asserts that the players are |
| Right, so the fourth Test of this series is about to get underway. The players and umpires walk out to the middle. Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings stride out. The former will face the music first up. |
| Three slips and a gully for Jasprit Bumrah, who will open the bowling for the tourists. Here we go... |
| 0.1 : J Bumrah to Cook, Starts the match with a peach of a delivery. Lands it a bit short of a length, on middle and off, Bumrah's angle takes the ball across Cook and the ball whizzes past the outside edge. Good start by Bumrah. |
| 0.2 : J Bumrah to Cook, Lands this one on a length on off stump, the ball goes across Cook who shoulders arms. |
| 0.3 : J Bumrah to Cook, Tries to compensate on the line and strays on the batsman's pads, Cook gets inside the line and tucks it from his hips to the man at deep fine leg. England are underway. |
| 0.4 : J Bumrah to Jennings, Keeps it just behind the length on the off stump, Jennings lets this one go past him. |
| 0.5 : J Bumrah to Jennings, Beaten! Bumrah's angle doing the talking here. He lands this on a length on middle and off, Jennings sees the initial line and tries to put bat on ball. But the movement away after pitching beats his outside edge. |
| 0.6 : J Bumrah to Jennings, Jennings shoulders arms to this length ball outside off to end the first over. |
| Ishant Sharma will bowl from the other end. |
| 1.1 : I Sharma to Cook, Sharma starts on a length just outside off. Cook leaves. |
| 1.2 : I Sharma to Cook, Beaten! He's genuinely beaten here. Sharma lands it on a length on off from around the wicket. The ball pitches and nips away from Cook who has a tentative poke at the ball. The outside edge is beaten and Cook survives. |
| 1.3 : I Sharma to Cook, Cook shoulders arms to this length ball outside off. |
| 1.4 : I Sharma to Cook, Ishant pulls the length back a bit. Cook gets behind the line of the ball and defends. |
| 1.5 : I Sharma to Cook, On a length outside off, Cook shoulders arms. |
| 1.6 : I Sharma to Cook, Cook goes back to this short of a length ball on off and keeps it out. |
| 2.1 : Bumrah to Jennings, OUT! What a Jaffa! Boom Boom Bumrahhh! Dream start for India as they draw first blood. He lands this one on a length just outside the of stump. Jennings expecting the ball to continue with the angle, shoulders arms to let it go behind. But the ball pitches and moves in prodigiously. Hits Jennings in the inside part of his front foot. The Indians appeal loud and the umpire has no hesitation in given this out. A big judgement error has cost the southpaw his wicket. Bumrah |
| 0.0 : Joe Root walks out to the middle. |
| 2.2 : J Bumrah to Root, Lands it on a length just outside off. Root comes forward and defends solidly. |
| 2.3 : J Bumrah to Root, Beaten! Root sees the initial line of the delivery coming into him from around the off stump, tries to block it but the ball nips away on landing to beat the outside edge. The slip cordon have their hands on their heads as the English captain survives. |
| 2.4 : J Bumrah to Root, Root shoulders arms to this length ball outside off. |
| 2.5 : J Bumrah to Root, Keeps it just behind a length around off, Root comes right behind the line of the delivery and keeps it out. |
| 2.6 : J Bumrah to Root, Bumrah attacks the stumps, not a bad tactic. Root seemed to be a bit late on the shot but flicks it into the mid-wicket region at the last moment. The timing is not perfect and the mid on fielder keeps it down to two. |
| 3.1 : I Sharma to Cook, Fullish length ball outside off, left alone. |
| 3.2 : I Sharma to Cook, Similar kind of delivery from Sharma, Asking Cook to have a go at it but he is not interested on this as he lets it past. |
| 3.3 : I Sharma to Cook, On a length this time, around off, Cook shoulders arms once again. |
| 3.4 : I Sharma to Cook, Nice and Watchfull is Cook. He looks better today. Sharma is testing him out with a length ball pitched on off and going away after pitching. Cook blocks it off the front foot. |
| 3.5 : I Sharma to Cook, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 3.6 : I Sharma to Cook, Again around off, Cook leaves it for Pant behind the stumps. |
| 4.1 : J Bumrah to Root, Length ball around off, defended off the back foot by Root. |
| 4.2 : J Bumrah to Root, Keeps it a bit fuller on off. Root comes forward and defends. |
| Review taken by India. Joe root is the man in question. |
| 4.3 : Bumrah to Root, No ball. Bumrah does it again! He lands the ball on a length just outside off. Root comes forward looking to defend it. The ball pitches and seams in, beats Joe's bat and raps him dead in front. The Indians appeal but the umpire is unmoved. India, confidently go for the review. But but but, the first replay shows Bumrah has overstepped. The decision stays and Root survives a close, close call. Further replays also show that, with three reds, Joe would have been a goner. Bum |
| J Bumrah to Root, Bumrah firs this on Roots pads who flicks this one into the leg side. The fielder at deep fine leg runs across and keeps it to two. |
| 4.4 : J Bumrah to Root, Lands it on a good length just outside off, Root leaves. |
| 4.5 : J Bumrah to Root, Root lets this one go outside the off stump. |
| 4.6 : J Bumrah to Root, Bumrah keeps this length delivery in line with the stumps. Root, from his crease, defends it. |
| 5.1 : I Sharma to Cook, No run. |
| 5.2 : I Sharma to Cook, Yorker! Sharma fire this one in the block hole. Cook is alert enough to get his bat down in time. Good ball. |
| 5.3 : I Sharma to Cook, A short of a length ball outside off is left alone. |
| 5.4 : I Sharma to Cook, Sharma attacks the line of the stumps, Cook gets behind the line of the ball and keeps it out. |
| 5.5 : I Sharma to Cook, FOUR! That's the first boundary for England. Sharma keeps it a bit fuller and a bit wider of off. Cook leans forward and square drives this past the point fielder. The ball races across the boundary. |
| 5.6 : I Sharma to Cook, Cook shoulders arms to this length ball wide outside off. |
| 6.1 : J Bumrah to Root, Straightish on the hips, Root fails to get the flick as the bat hits his thigh pad and goes behind. A leg bye stolen. |
| 6.2 : J Bumrah to Cook, Cook chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 6.3 : J Bumrah to Cook, Too wide to entice Cook with a shot who lets it be. |
| 6.4 : J Bumrah to Cook, The batsman tries flicking a ball that is down the leg side but misses. |
| 6.5 : J Bumrah to Cook, FOUR! Bumrah errs in line and Cook make him pay. He bowls a back of a length ball on the pads and Cook flicks it easily to the fine leg boundary for his second boundary. |
| 6.6 : J Bumrah to Cook, Cook hangs back and keeps it out off the back foot to end the over. A rather good one for the home team. |
| England this time take the review. Again it's Root the man in question. |
| 7.1 : I Sharma to Root, OUT! India do get the English skipper. Bumrah must be a relieved man. Sharma continuing to bowl a bit fuller lands it just outside off. The ball hits the deck and nips back in. Root comes forward tentatively to block it out. Ishant's natural angle and the inward movement beats Root's inside edge and raps him, in what seems to be in front of the wickets. Kumar Dharmasena has no hesitation in giving it out. Root has a chat with Cook and decides to go for the review. Replay |
| 0.0 : Jonny Bairstow is the next batsman in. |
| 7.2 : I Sharma to Bairstow, Hits the pads again, India appeal again, but this time it's not out. Sharma keeps it a bit full on off, Bairstow comes forward to defend but gets hit on the pads. The ball is clearly missing the leg stump and Bairstow survives a golden duck. |
| 7.3 : I Sharma to Bairstow, Bairstow chooses to leave this length delivery outside off. |
| 7.4 : I Sharma to Bairstow, On a good length around off, Bairstow defends off the front foot. |
| 7.5 : I Sharma to Bairstow, Gets a bit straighter this time as he lands this on middle and leg with the angle coming into the batsman, Bairstow works it away towards the mid-wicket region and changes strike. |
| 7.6 : I Sharma to Cook, A short of a length delivery on off, pitches and moves away a bit. Cook does well to account for the movement and pushes it towards the cover region. The batsman run a single. |
| 8.1 : J Bumrah to Cook, The ball is too wide of the off stump to entice Cook into a shot. |
| 8.2 : J Bumrah to Cook, lands it on a length, Cook comes forward to jabs it away into the leg side. |
| 8.3 : J Bumrah to Cook, FOUR! Cook does not miss out on this full toss wide of off stump, Cook reaches out and gets enough bat on this one, the ball races through the gap between gully and point and crosses the fence. |
| 8.4 : J Bumrah to Cook, Keeps it a bit short of a length. Cooks gets behind the line and blocks it. |
| 8.5 : J Bumrah to Cook, Fuller around off this time, Cook prods forward and defends. |
| 8.6 : J Bumrah to Cook, Beaten! Another beautiful delivery by Bumrah. He angles this one into Cook on a length, Cook tries to put bat on ball but the ball moves away on landing and beats the outside edge to end the over. |
| 9.1 : I Sharma to J Bairstow, Fuller outside off. Jonny pushes it tentatively to the off side. |
| 9.2 : I Sharma to Bairstow, An attempted bumper but the line is down the leg side. Pant makes a diving save to his left and saves runs for his team as Bairstow ducks under it. |
| 9.3 : I Sharma to Bairstow, Sharma is bowling a tad fuller this morning, making it hang in the air and letting it swing. The ball nips back in and Jonny manages to get an inside edge on to his pad. |
| 9.4 : I Sharma to Bairstow, That ball has struck the batsman on the thigh-pad. |
| 9.5 : I Sharma to Bairstow, Goodness me, what a cracker. Sharma is looking so threatening, making the ball move so viciously. This one cut Bairstow in half. It lands on a back of a length and nips back in sharply. Bairstow is on the front foot and looks to play it with a lot of gap between bat-pad. The ball goes through the gap and over the sticks. Pant behind makes under diving stop with one hand to his left. Sharma can't believe it missed everything. |
| 9.6 : I Sharma to Bairstow, Wide down the leg side, Bairstow leaves it alone. Another good tight over from Sharma. |
| 10.1 : J Bumrah to Cook, Bumrah continues to trouble Cook. He lands it just short of a length around off stump from around the wicket. The ball lands and moves away a bit. Cook does not poke at it but the ball passes very near to the outside edge of his bat. |
| 10.2 : J Bumrah to Cook, Fuller and straighter on middle and leg, Cook leans and works it into the mid-wicket region for a single. |
| 10.3 : J Bumrah to J Bairstow, Very full delivery around off, Bairstow leans forward and drives this superbly through the covers. The fielder at covers gives chase and keeps it down to three. |
| 10.4 : J Bumrah to Cook, Beaten! Bumrah keeps it on a length just outside off, Cook looks to defend but the ball pitches, nips away and beats his bat. |
| 10.5 : J Bumrah to Cook, Yorker on off stump by Bumrah. Cook does well to dig it out in time. |
| 10.6 : J Bumrah to Cook, Beaten again! Bumrah continues to land it on a length just outside off, Cook looking to block on the front foot but the ball pitches, nips away and beats the outside edge of his bat. |
| 11.1 : I Sharma to Bairstow, Starts the over with a length ball around off, the ball is shaping in nicely on pitching but Bairstow does well to account for the movement and blocks it solidly off the front foot. |
| 11.2 : I Sharma to Bairstow, Ishant gets a bit straighter and strays it on his pads. Bairstow whips this one to the deep fine leg fielder for a single. |
| 11.3 : I Sharma to Cook, Keeps it on a length but the line is way outside off for Cook to try any shot as he leaves it. |
| 11.4 : I Sharma to Cook, Similar delivery and Cook shoulders arms again. |
| 11.5 : I Sharma to Cook, Good stop by Rahane at short point. Ishant keeps this one fuller outside off stump. Cook goes for the drive but the ball moves away on landing and takes the outer half of his bat. The ball flies at a very low height towards Rahane at short point but falls way short of him Rahane dives and saves four runs. |
| 11.6 : I Sharma to Cook, Cook lets this length ball outside the off stump go behind. |
| Drinks. A good start by India, picking up two English wickets, including their skipper. The Indian opening pace attack of Bumrah and Ishant have done well to keep majority of the deliveries in the corridor of uncertainty. The batsmen never looked settled. |
| 12.1 : J Bumrah to Bairstow, Yorker to start the thirteenth over. Well dug out by Bairstow. The ball rolls down towards the square leg region and the batsmen take a quick single. |
| 12.2 : J Bumrah to Cook, A bit shorter in length and in line with the stumps. Cooks walks across and tries to work it into the leg side but gets beaten to get rapped on the thigh pad. |
| 12.3 : J Bumrah to Cook, Cook shows the full face of the bat to defend this length delivery on off. |
| 12.4 : J Bumrah to Cook, Bumrah strays on Cook's pads and he flicks it towards the square leg region for a single. |
| 12.5 : J Bumrah to Bairstow, Keeps it on a length outside off, Bairstow has nothing to do with it as he lets it go behind. |
| 12.6 : J Bumrah to Bairstow, OUT! Bairstow can do nothing against this peach of a delivery from Bumrah. He lands this one on a length just outside off. Bairstow, after doing well in leaving these ones until now, is drawn into a defensive shot, may be because of Bumrah's angle and also the fact that this one is just that bit closer to the off stump. The ball pitches and holds it's line more than anything else, the slight change in line gets the outside edge. It flies to Pant who pouches it and th |
| In comes Ben Stokes at number 5. Also, Hardik Pandya comes on for a bowl. |
| 13.1 : H Pandya to Cook, Pandya starts the spell with a length ball around off, Cook gets hit on his pad outside the line. |
| 13.2 : H Pandya to Cook, On the pads, flicked to deep backward square leg for a run. |
| 13.3 : H Pandya to Stokes, A shortish ball around off, Stokes lunges forward to get a thick outside edge. The ball lands in front of the fielder at third slip so no harm done. |
| 13.4 : H Pandya to Stokes, Ben has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 13.5 : H Pandya to Stokes, In line of the stumps again, Stokes keep it out off the front foot for no run. |
| 13.6 : H Pandya to Stokes, On middle and off, Stokes keeps it out off the inner half of the bat. |
| 14.1 : J Bumrah to Cook, Bumrah goes 'round the wicket to land this on a fuller length around off, Cook prods forward and gets it off the outer half of the bat. |
| 14.2 : J Bumrah to Cook, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 14.3 : J Bumrah to Cook, This is a great leave. Too close to comfort but a great leave nonetheless. Cook leaves this one seeing that it pitched outside off. The ball moves in just a touch and goes past the off pole to the keeper. |
| 14.4 : J Bumrah to Cook, Watchful Cook once again defend the length ball right under his eyes. |
| 14.5 : J Bumrah to Cook, On off pole, solidly blocked off the front foot. |
| 14.6 : J Bumrah to Cook, Straighter and fuller targeting the stumps, Cook comes on the front foot and defends. |
| 15.1 : H Pandya to Stokes, FOUR! Shot! Played with such ease by Stokes. He gets a full ball on leg and flicks it from his crease. The connection is right and it goes through the vacant mid-wicket region for a boundary. |
| 15.2 : H Pandya to Stokes, Ben shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 15.3 : H Pandya to Stokes, Around off, on a good length, defended. |
| 15.4 : H Pandya to Stokes, In line of the stumps from Pandya, Stokes blocks it. |
| 15.5 : H Pandya to Stokes, Full ball, on the pads, Stokes fails to put bat to ball and gets hit on his pads. A leg bye stolen by the batsmen. |
| 15.6 : H Pandya to Cook, Shortish on middle and leg, Cook pushes it to on side for no run. |
| Mohammed Shami comes in for a spell. |
| 16.1 : M Shami to Ben Stokes, Shami starts the proceedings with a short of a length ball in line of the stumps, Cook tucks it through mid-wicket off the inner half of the bat and changes strike. |
| 16.2 : M Shami to Stokes, Full, outside off, left alone. |
| 16.3 : M Shami to Stokes, Around off, on a length, blocked. |
| 16.4 : M Shami to Stokes, A touch short, wide of off, Stokes slaps it through cover-point and takes a brace. |
| 16.5 : M Shami to Stokes, Flicks this length ball to the on side for no run. |
| 16.6 : M Shami to Stokes, Last ball of the over. Stokes leaves the length ball for the keeper. Not a bad start from Shami. |
| 17.1 : H Pandya to Cook, OUT! Boom! Gone! Cook looks to fish around off and gets burned. Pandya is the man this time, the star of Nottingham, gets his name in the wicket's column in Southampton as well. A short of a length ball outside off, Cook looks to cut it through backward point off the back foot but ends up guiding to Kohli at third slip. Kudos to Kohli who stayed low, crouches further down and takes a good catch to end Cook's gritty innings. Cook will be disappointed as England are reeling |
| 17.2 : H Pandya to Jos Buttler, Fuller around off, driven to covers for no run. |
| 17.3 : H Pandya to Buttler, Outside off, left alone. |
| 17.4 : H Pandya to Buttler, Similar length, outside off, Buttler lets it pass. |
| 17.5 : H Pandya to Buttler, Pandya errs in line a bit and dishes it on the hips. Buttler clips it fine and takes three before Dhawan cuts it out before reaching the boundary. |
| 17.6 : H Pandya to Stokes, An in swinging length ball in line of the stumps, Stokes looks to defend but gets an inside edge to the fine leg region. A leg bye stolen. |
| 18.1 : M Shami to Stokes, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 18.2 : M Shami to Stokes, Around off, left alone. |
| 18.3 : Shami to Stokes, Down the leg side, Stokes leaves it for the keeper. There is an appeal but the umpire ignores it. |
| 18.4 : M Shami to Stokes, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 18.5 : M Shami to Stokes, Shows the full face of the bat and keeps it out off the front foot for no run. |
| 18.6 : M Shami to Stokes, Stokes wrists the length ball to the on side off his pads. A brace results. |
| 19.1 : H Pandya to Buttler, Defended off the back foot by Jos. |
| 19.2 : H Pandya to Jos Buttler, FOUR! Drives and drives it nicely. A full length with some width on offer. Buttler's feet stays in his crease but his bat goes after it away from his body. The ball beats the covers fielder and races to the boundary. |
| 19.3 : H Pandya to Buttler, FOUR! Another one. Two in two. A shortish ball in line of the stumps, Buttler clips it through square leg and the ball manages to cross the fence just in time. |
| 19.4 : H Pandya to Buttler, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 19.5 : H Pandya to Buttler, Shortish on middle and off, defended. |
| 19.6 : H Pandya to Buttler, On off this time, on a similar length, Buttler blocks it under his eyes. |
| 20.1 : M Shami to Stokes, Fuller on off, pushed to covers off the back foot by Stokes. |
| 20.2 : M Shami to Stokes, Shami hasn't found his length this morning it seems. He bowls this one on the pads, Stokes it flicks it through the backward square leg and takes a brace. Shami cries 'C'mon yaar' as he sees Ashwin jogging to get to the ball. |
| 20.3 : M Shami to Stokes, A good comeback ball this. A full ball outside off and swinging in after pitching. Stokes doesn't fiddle with it. |
| 20.4 : M Shami to Stokes, Gets behind the line of this one and keeps it out. |
| 20.5 : M Shami to Stokes, The batsman chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 20.6 : M Shami to Stokes, Takes a couple of steps down the track and seeing the short of a length, lets it pass. The ball swings in late and evades diving Pant even though he dived to his right. A bye taken in the end. |
| Jasprit Bumrah comes back on. |
| 21.1 : J Bumrah to Stokes, A length ball angling across the left-hander who lets it be. |
| 21.2 : J Bumrah to Stokes, Ben chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 21.3 : J Bumrah to Stokes, Dear me. Out of 6 ball in an over, Bumrah bowls at least one unplayable ball just like this last one. A length ball pitching on middle and off and going across Stokes. He comes down the track to counter the swing but is beaten by the away movement. Geez! |
| 21.4 : J Bumrah to Stokes, The batsman has defended it by getting right behind the line of the delivery. |
| 21.5 : J Bumrah to Stokes, Similar ball like 21.3 and same result as well. Stokes again comes walking down and is again beaten by the away movement. Could have easily edged this one but survives. |
| 21.6 : J Bumrah to Stokes, Ben chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 22.1 : M Shami to Buttler, On a length, around off, left alone. |
| 22.2 : M Shami to Buttler, Wide outside off stump, Buttler leaves it alone. |
| 22.3 : M Shami to Buttler, Dropped! A difficult one but it will be counted as a drop. Buttler survives once again, two chances in two Tests and Pant is the man again who gives him a reprieve. Shami digs this outside off and angles it into Buttler. He looks to leave it at the very last moment but the ball goes off the bottom half of the bat. Pant behind the stumps looks to get up with the bounce but the edge does him bad. It dips and goes on full to him. It hits him low on his leg and goes to the |
| 22.4 : M Shami to Buttler, Back of a length ball outside off, played through backward point for a run. |
| 22.5 : M Shami to Stokes, In line of the stumps, tucked to mid-wicket for a brace off the back foot. |
| 22.6 : M Shami to Stokes, An absolute peach this from Shami. He angles it across Stokes who looks to have a tentative push but misses. The ball gets some late swing and makes it troublesome for Pant behind the stumps once again. No harm done in the end. Last over before Lunch coming up next. |
| 23.1 : J Bumrah to Buttler, On the pads, flicked through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 23.2 : J Bumrah to Stokes, Outside off, left alone. |
| 23.3 : J Bumrah to Stokes, Hangs back to show the full face and keeps it out down the ground. |
| 23.4 : Bumrah to Stokes, An away swinging ball pitching outside the leg stump. Stokes fails to connect with the ball and gets hit high on his pads. An appeal ensues but the umpire ignores it. |
| 23.5 : J Bumrah to Stokes, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 23.6 : J Bumrah to Stokes, Stokes again gets behind the line of the length ball to keep it out. That's Lunch on Day 1. |
| What a great session for India, much better than what they would have expected after being asked to bowl. Their pacers were on the money from the very first ball. Jennings looked completely clueless when he left an incoming delivery from Bumrah and was caught plumb in front of the wickets. The English skipper was lucky to survive a close LBW appeal against Bumrah, who again overstepped. But Sharma soon dismissed Root with a similar delivery, the only difference being, a part of his foot was beh |
| The fourth wicket was the big one, of the other English opener and their highest scorer in Test cricket, Cook. It was a combination of some consistent bowling, a slight loss in concentration on the part of Cook and a brilliant low catch at third slip by the Indian captain. Since then, the pair of Stokes and Buttler has held the fort and go into lunch unbeaten. India will look to continue putting pressure on the English lower-order and try to wrap up the innings as early as possible. Stokes and B |
| ... Day 1, Session 2 ... |
| We are about to get the post-lunch session underway. The players and umpires are out in the middle. Mohammad Shami to start the proceedings for India. Let's see what's in store in this session... |
| 24.1 : M Shami to Buttler, Starts the session with a full length ball, outside off and moving away. Buttler lets it go. |
| 24.2 : M Shami to Buttler, Similar delivery and the same response from Buttler. |
| 24.3 : M Shami to Buttler, Pulls the length just a wee bit and also comes a little closer to the off stump. However, Buttler seems to have a good idea where his off stump is and decides to leave it at the last moment. |
| 24.4 : M Shami to Buttler, Outside off again and left again. Shami needs to make Buttler play. |
| 24.5 : M Shami to Buttler, FOUR! Streaky! That's the line Shami should hit consistently. Lands it a bit fuller on a length, it was on the middle stump line with some movement away. Buttler tries to push at it and gets squared up. The away movement takes the leading edge and the ball goes towards the backward point region for a boundary. |
| 24.6 : M Shami to Buttler, Length ball around off is defended of the front foot. |
| Ashwin will bowl from the other end. |
| 25.1 : R Ashwin to Stokes, Tossed up delivery is blocked on the front foot by Stokes. |
| 25.2 : R Ashwin to Stokes, A bit slower, shorter and straighter from Ashwin. Stokes works it away off his pads. |
| 25.3 : R Ashwin to Stokes, Shorter and wide by Ashwin, Stokes cuts it but the ball goes straight to the point fielder. |
| 25.4 : R Ashwin to Stokes, Stokes dances down the track and does well to block the ball. |
| 25.5 : R Ashwin to Stokes, Tossed up outside off, Stokes shoulders arms. |
| 25.6 : R Ashwin to Stokes, FOUR! Stokes takes full toll of this lose one from Ashwin. He lands it a bit shorter outside off. Stokes rocks back and across and punches it off the back foot through he cover region. Finds the gap and the ball crosses the fence. |
| 26.1 : M Shami to Buttler, FOUR! Shot! A very full delivery by Shami is driven beautifully through covers by Buttler. He leans nicely into the drive, gets his head on top of the ball and demonstrates how to drive a swinging delivery. |
| 26.2 : M Shami to Buttler, A bit wider outside off, shaping away. Buttler leaves it alone. |
| 26.3 : M Shami to Buttler, OUT! Kohli takes a sharp one at third slip. England has lost half their side. Shami continues to land it in the corridor of uncertainty. Gets the ball to move away on pitching. Buttler, stuck in his crease, reaches out at the ball and goes for a drive on the up. This results in him getting the outside edge and the ball flies towards third slip at head height and the India captain is alert and sharp enough to catch it fingers pointing upwards. He made a difficult catch |
| Moeen Ali walks in next. |
| 26.4 : M Shami to Ali, No run. |
| 26.5 : M Shami to Ali, No run. |
| 26.6 : M Shami to Ali, No run. |
| Ishant Sharma is back on. |
| 27.1 : I Sharma to Stokes, Outside off, left alone. |
| 27.2 : I Sharma to Stokes, Again angles the length back across Stokes who lets it be. |
| 27.3 : I Sharma to Stokes, Closer to the off pole on a similar length, Stokes leaves it seeing the away angle. |
| 27.4 : I Sharma to Stokes, Stokes has no interest in playing the short deliveries around his off stump as he leaves another one for Pant for some practice. |
| 27.5 : I Sharma to Stokes, And again. This is rigid from Stokes. He is leaving the angled ball on length and has been watchful of his off stumps. |
| 27.6 : I Sharma to Stokes, Sharma goes around the wickets and bowls a slower ball outside off and full. Stokes lunges forward to defend it but gets beaten. The ball goes to the keeper on a bounce. A nice tight over from Sharma. |
| 28.1 : M Shami to Ali, Nice stop from Pant. He has been agile today behind the sticks. A gentle loosener outside leg, Ali looks to flick but misses. Pant does well to dive to his right and stop the ball from going to the fine leg fence. The ball hits his glove and rolls to the on side as the batsmen take a run. The umpire signals byes. |
| 28.2 : M Shami to Stokes, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 28.3 : M Shami to Stokes, On a length, outside off, left alone. |
| 28.4 : M Shami to Stokes, Too wide of off, Stokes keeps his bat away from the line of the ball. |
| 28.5 : M Shami to Stokes, In swinger in line of the stumps, Stokes tucks the length ball to the on side and changes strike. |
| 28.6 : M Shami to Ali, Whizzes past the edge. Shami has been probing nicely in the outside off stump channel. Ali hangs his bat looking to defend but misses. |
| 29.1 : I Sharma to Stokes, Starts the over by landing it just short of a length on the middle stump line from around the wicket. Stokes gets behind and defends. |
| 29.2 : I Sharma to Stokes, Similar ball and blocked from the crease by Stokes. |
| 29.3 : I Sharma to Stokes, Gets it fuller this time in the line of the stumps. Stokes waits for the ball to arrive and blocks it out. |
| 29.4 : I Sharma to Stokes, Stokes defends this length ball on the middle and leg stump off the back foot. |
| 29.5 : I Sharma to Stokes, Sharma probing away on the same line and length. Stokes gets behind the line of the ball and defends again. |
| 29.6 : I Sharma to Ben Stokes, Edged! Just short of third slip. Sharma lands it a bit fuller around off and shaping away. Stokes comes forward to block, gets a thick outside edge which goes straight to ground and on a bounce to Kohli at third slip. Stokes must have had his heart in his mouth a couple of times in this innings, but the important thing is, he's still out there and England desperately need him to be. |
| 30.1 : M Shami to Ali, Brilliant bowling! Shami switches to around the wicket and bowls a delivery that angles in sharply initially. At the last moment, it moves away as Ali leaves it tentatively. |
| 30.2 : M Shami to Ali, Full but wide outside off this time, left alone. |
| 30.3 : M Shami to Ali, Ali is off the mark but not convincingly! On a length outside off, Moeen plays it with soft hands but gets it off the outer half past the gully region. Three runs taken. |
| 30.4 : M Shami to Stokes, FOUR! Bumrah should have done better there. Fullish ball, too straight on this occasion. Stokes flicks it towards square leg. Bumrah stationed there dives lazily and allows the ball to roll past him and to the fence. |
| 30.5 : M Shami to Stokes, Four Byes! That one moved a long way away! Outside off, Stokes lets it go. Pant dives full length but he has no chance to stop it. Pujara had to get out of the way as it was coming at a very brisk pace and he was not expecting it. |
| 30.6 : M Shami to Stokes, A lot is happening at the moment! Pitched up ball around off, a lot of nibble in the air. Stokes pushes at it but gets an outside edge that lands just short of the crouching gully fielder. |
| 31.1 : I Sharma to Ali, In the zone outside off, Moeen lets it go. |
| 31.2 : I Sharma to Ali, Good probing stuff from Sharma! He bowls this one in the avenue of apprehension and gets it to move away a wee bit. Ali points his bat skywards to allow it through. |
| 31.3 : I Sharma to Ali, Full ball attacking the stumps, kept out watchfully. |
| 31.4 : I Sharma to Ali, Good length ball around that tight off stump channel, Ali presents a water-tight defense. |
| 31.5 : I Sharma to Ali, That's a jaffa! Keeps coming in with the natural around the wicket angle, squaring Ali up. Then the ball pitches and moves away to take the outside edge. It again falls short of gully. Kumar Dharmasena walks towards Ishant and has a word with him. Perhaps regarding him landing on the danger area. He needs to be careful. |
| 31.6 : I Sharma to Ali, Pitched up ball around off, Moeen stand his ground and blocks it. |
| 32.1 : M Shami to Stokes, Starts the over with a very full delivery on off. Stokes leans forward and gently drives this to mid off. |
| 32.2 : M Shami to Stokes, Shami keeps it a bit shorter of a length and outside off. Stokes lets it go. The ball, after crossing the batsman, moves prodigiously and Pant behind has to dive full length to his left to pouch it. |
| 32.3 : M Shami to Stokes, Beaten! Shami gets his line and length right this time. Lands it in the corridor around off, Stokes, from within the crease, tries to push at it tentatively. The ball hits the deck and moves away to beat Stoke's outside edge. |
| 32.4 : M Shami to Stokes, Full and straight again, Driven to mid off. |
| 32.5 : M Shami to Stokes, A length ball around off is pushed towards the cover region. |
| 32.6 : M Shami to Stokes, Shami attacks the line of the stumps and keeps it a bit fuller. Stokes turns it around towards mid-wicket and picks up a single. |
| 33.1 : I Sharma to Stokes, Ishant continues to keep it on a length around off stump. Stokes gets forward and defends. |
| 0.0 : In the last over, Mohammed Shami was struck hard in his followthrough. He is sitting near the boundary ropes now, being attended to by the physio. He looks in a lot of pain. Let's hope it is nothing serious. |
| 33.2 : I Sharma to Stokes, Ishant is not leaving that channel. He's just not giving anything away here. Probing away again on a length just outside off. Stokes does well to watchfully let it go. |
| 33.3 : I Sharma to Stokes, Stokes walks down the track, may be to negate the movement. Ishant keeps it a bit shorter of a length. Stokes taps it away towards the cover-point region and picks up yet another single. |
| 33.4 : I Sharma to Ali, Sharma strays on Ali's pads who flicks it away to deep fine leg for a single. |
| 33.5 : I Sharma to Stokes, A bit wider of off this time, Stokes leaves. |
| 33.6 : I Sharma to Stokes, A fuller one this time just outside off, but the line is not close enough to tempt Stokes into a shot. |
| Good to see Mohammed Shami back on the ground and raring to go. |
| 34.1 : M Shami to Ali, Absolute beauty! Beats him on the very first delivery of the over. Shami fires in an 88 mph delivery on a length just outside off. What's more, it moves away on landing. Ali, from within the crease, looks to block it but the movement beats his bat and Ali survives. |
| 34.2 : M Shami to Ali, Shami gets straighter and Ali flicks it to the deep fine leg region. They exchange strike. |
| 34.3 : M Shami to Stokes, Shami keeps it wide of off stump and Stokes has nothing to do with it. |
| A review for LBW is taken by England. The man in question is Stokes. It looks very close. |
| 34.4 : M Shami to Stokes, OUT! It's Three Reds and there goes England's sixth wicket. Shami's consistent line and length gets rewarded. He lands this one on a length just outside off, angling in from around the wicket. Stokes gets across and tries to keep it away but the ball pitches and sharply nips into the southpaw. The ball beats the inside edge and raps the front pad. India appeal and the umpire obliges. Stokes though feels he has a chance to get away with this one. He decides to go for the |
| Sam Curran comes out to bat. Can he deliver on his return? |
| 34.5 : M Shami to Curran, keeps it on a length around off stump, Curran defends by getting behind the line of the ball. |
| 34.6 : M Shami to Ali, Shami bangs this one in short. Ali sees it early and ducks under it. |
| 35.1 : I Sharma to Curran, On a length around off, Curran camps back and stonewalls it. |
| 35.2 : I Sharma to Curran, Well bowled! That surprised Curran a bit. Very full ball on middle and off, there is some movement in the air. Curran loses a bit of balance but manages to just keep it out down the track. Ishant tumbles down on his followthrough and stops it. |
| 35.3 : I Sharma to Sam Curran, Nicely played! We have seen in the past that he is good on the drive. Fractionally overpitched outside off, Sam leans ahead and caresses it through covers. A couple taken. |
| 35.4 : I Sharma to Sam Curran, Sharma continues to be full around the off stump channel. Curran without much foot movement goes for a flashy drive but gets it off the inner half towards mid off. |
| 35.5 : I Sharma to Curran, In the zone outside off, Curran points his bat skywards to allow it through. |
| 35.6 : I Sharma to Curran, Sharma drags his length back a touch. Sam camps back and presents a water-tight defense. |
| Time for Drinks! |
| 36.1 : M Shami to Ali, Good length ball in the fifth stump channel, Ali points his bat skywards to let it go. |
| 36.2 : M Shami to Ali, That was poor from Moeen! Short and there is room on offer, he chases it away from his body and almost nicks it behind. You got to have your concentrations levels right up when the ball is doing so much. |
| 36.3 : M Shami to Ali, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 36.4 : M Shami to Ali, Beautiful bowling from Shami! He steams in from around the wicket and swings the ball in. At the very last moment, it pitches and moves away. Ali has to play at it and is beaten all ends up. |
| 36.5 : M Shami to Ali, Outside off, left alone. |
| 36.6 : M Shami to Ali, That was so risky! Shami can't believe it that it missed the off pole. Coming in sharply from outside off, Moeen lets it through and it just misses the stumps. Mohammed has his hands on his head and a wry smile on his face. |
| Hardik Pandya is back. |
| 37.1 : H Pandya to Curran, The batsman lets the ball go outside his off stump. |
| 37.2 : H Pandya to Curran, Brilliant piece of fielding from Rahane! Back of a length outside off, Curran punches it nicely towards covers. Ajinkya moves to his left and dives like a goalkeeper to stop a certain boundary. |
| 37.3 : H Pandya to Curran, Well outside off, Sam has no need to go after it and he doesn't. |
| 37.4 : H Pandya to Sam Curran, This is good batting from Curran! In the slot for him, he leans ahead confidently and drives it past the diving Rahane. Ample time for the batsmen to come back for the third run. |
| 37.5 : H Pandya to M Ali, Streaky but effective! Fullish ball around off, Ali just keeps his bat down to block it but gets an outside edge past gully. Three more is the result. |
| 37.6 : H Pandya to Curran, Hangs back to the short of a length ball and blocks it out. |
| 38.1 : M Shami to Ali, A shorter and wider delivery outside off is punched off the back foot in towards the point region, Ali finds the gap and the batsman take a brace. |
| 38.2 : M Shami to Ali, A length ball around off, Ali comes forward and defends it. |
| 38.3 : M Shami to M Ali, FOUR! Streaky! But as they say, It's not how, but how many in cricket. Shami keeps it a bit shorter of a length around off, Ali stands within his crease and pushes at it tentatively, the ball pitches and moves away taking the thick outside edge of Ali's bat and the ball flies through the vacant gully region to the boundary. England's 100 comes up. |
| 38.4 : M Shami to Ali, A length ball outside off is left alone. |
| 38.5 : M Shami to Ali, Bumper from Shami. Ali ducks under it. |
| 38.6 : M Shami to Ali, Ali will fell he's missed out on it. Shami bowls it very full and wide outside off. Ali leans forward and square drives it, however, finds the fielder at point. |
| 39.1 : H Pandya to Sam Curran, FOUR! Cracked! Pandya lands this one short and wide outside off. Curran rocks back and cuts this one in the gap between covers and point. The timing is exquisite and the ball races across the fence. |
| 39.2 : H Pandya to Curran, FOUR! Brilliant batting by Curran. Pandya overcompensates and lands it very full. Curran comes forward, leans a bit and drives it straight down the ground past the bowler's right. The ball goes past the boundary and Curran is adding some vital runs for the home team. |
| 39.3 : H Pandya to Curran, Super timing from Curran. Pandya drops it a bit short and wide of off, Curran stays back and punches it through the point region. The man at the deep point boundary slides and stops it from crossing the ropes and saves two. |
| 39.4 : H Pandya to Curran, Beaten! A lose ball is followed by a lose shot. Pandya keeps it short and way wide of off, Curran tries his best to reach to the ball but misses it completely. On a different day it could have taken the edge and would have looked a very silly dismissal. |
| 39.5 : H Pandya to Curran, Length ball outside off is left alone. |
| 39.6 : H Pandya to Curran, FOUR! Short of a length just outside off, Curran goes for the cut, beats the man at point and also the one at deep point for the ball to races across for a boundary. Curran counter attacking here. Some smart batting. |
| H Pandya to Curran, A back of a length delivery is defended back to the bowler. |
| Jasprit Bumrah returns. |
| 40.1 : J Bumrah to Ali, A bit shorter and in the line of the stumps. Ali leaves this one on length as the ball whizzes over the middle stump. |
| 40.2 : J Bumrah to Ali, A bit fuller and a bit wider of off, Ali shoulders arms. |
| 40.3 : J Bumrah to Ali, This one is too wide to entice Ali into a stroke. |
| 40.4 : J Bumrah to Ali, On a length just outside off, Ali does well to watchfully let it go behind. |
| 40.5 : J Bumrah to Ali, FOUR! Bumrah misses his line and length by a bit and Ali pounces on it. Keeps this a bit shorter and a bit wide of off. Ali cuts it and cuts it superbly to find the gap in the point region. Third boundary of the over as England look to fight back. |
| 40.6 : J Bumrah to Ali,Beaten! Peach from Bumrah. Lands this one on a length around the middle and off line, Ali is tempted to poke at it. The ball moves away on landing and beats Ali's outside edge. A wonderful ball to end the over. |
| Ashwin comes back into the attack. |
| 41.1 : R Ashwin to Curran, Tossed up on his pads, Curran flicks it away towards mid-wicket to pick up a single. |
| 41.2 : R Ashwin to Ali, A similar ball is played in a similar way by the other batsman. Ali flicks this floated delivery into the leg side for a single. |
| 41.3 : R Ashwin to Curran, Tossed up on middle, defended off the front foot. |
| 41.4 : R Ashwin to Curran, Floats this one a bit fuller on off, Curran elegantly drives it to mid off. |
| 41.5 : R Ashwin to Curran, Curran punches this one towards the cover region as Ashwin pulls back the length a bit. |
| 41.6 : R Ashwin to Curran, Tossed up around off, Curran prods forward and blocks. |
| 42.1 : J Bumrah to Ali, Starts the over with a short of a length ball around off, angling away, Ali leaves it alone. |
| 42.2 : J Bumrah to Ali, Outside off again by Bumrah and Ali shoulders arms. |
| 42.3 : J Bumrah to Ali, Similar delivery and a similar response as Ali leaves this length ball outside off. |
| 42.4 : J Bumrah to Ali, Bowls this one a bit straight, in line of the stumps. Ali, from within his crease, flicks it away to square leg. |
| 42.5 : J Bumrah to Ali, Beaten! Ali is lucky again as this one misses his outside edge by a whisker. Bumrah lands it in the corridor around off and gets it to move away on pitching. Ali tries to get bat on ball but gets beaten. |
| 42.6 : J Bumrah to Ali, A fuller length on off, Ali defends off the front foot. |
| 43.1 : R Ashwin to Curran, Tossed up ball on the stumps is pushed back to the bowler. |
| 43.2 : R Ashwin to Curran, Edge found but he's safe. Ashwin slows this one down a bit and lands it on a fuller length around middle and off. Curran is not forward nor back and tries to block it away. The ball pitches and turns away taking the outside edge. But the edge flies far away from the fielder at first slip and he had no chance. |
| 43.3 : R Ashwin to Curran, Keeps it a bit shorter on off, Curran goes back and punches towards the covers region. |
| 43.4 : R Ashwin to Curran, A tossed up delivery on off is defended back to the bowler. |
| 43.5 : R Ashwin to Curran, Curran comes forward and defends this floated delivery off the front foot. |
| 43.6 : R Ashwin to Curran, A bit more flight on this one, tempting Curran into the drive and the southpaw drives it straight to the man at mid off. |
| 44.1 : J Bumrah to M Ali, Short ball targeting the grille of Moeen who swivels and gets it to deep backward square leg for a run. |
| 44.2 : J Bumrah to Curran, On a length around middle and off, blocked. |
| 44.3 : J Bumrah to Curran, Similar kind of delivery from Bumrah. Curran gets around the delivery to defend it. |
| 44.4 : J Bumrah to Curran, A touch too straight this time and enough for Curran to work it around the corner for another easy single. |
| 44.5 : J Bumrah to Ali, Skiddy! Similar delivery to the one bowled to Jennings in the morning. Ali does well to get behind the line of the in swinger and keep it out. Though the ball has gone softer, Bumrah is still making it talk. |
| 44.6 : J Bumrah to Ali, An jaffa! A short of a length ball going away from Ali. He looks to have a go at it from his crease but gets beaten. The slip cordon is showing some excitement but Bumrah has a smirk and he nods in disagreement. Brilliant over from the youngster once again. |
| 45.1 : R Ashwin to Curran, Ashwin keeps it on the middle and off line but the length is a bit shorter than his liking, Curran goes back and turns this one around the corner to pick up a single. |
| 45.2 : R Ashwin to Ali, Tossed up ball on off, defended down. |
| 45.3 : R Ashwin to Ali, Floated delivery outside off, Ali leaves it alone. |
| 45.4 : R Ashwin to Ali, A very full delivery wide of the off stump, Ali goes for the drive away from his body, gets the inside edge and the ball rolls back to the bowler's left. |
| 45.5 : R Ashwin to Ali, Tossed up ball on the off stump, Ali comes forward and keeps it out. |
| 45.6 : R Ashwin to Ali, A bit wider of off, Ali shoulders arms. |
| 46.1 : J Bumrah to Curran, Bumrah starts the new over with a back of a length delivery on off. Curran decides to leave it as the ball flies across him into Pant's gloves. |
| 46.2 : J Bumrah to Curran, Keeps it a bit fuller and straighter. Curran does well to block it out. |
| 46.3 : J Bumrah to Curran, Well played by Curran. This one is kept on a length on the off stump line. But this one co0mes in after landing. Curran does well to account for the inward movement and drives to mid off. |
| 46.4 : J Bumrah to Ali, A back of a length delivery on off, Ali rocks back and keeps it out. |
| 46.5 : J Bumrah to Ali, SIX! Ali goes for the hook and gets reward with a maximum. They say luck favors the brave and Ali and Curran playing some brave cricket here. Bumrah bangs this one short, Ali goes back, swivels and goes for the hook. The ball gets the top edge and flies towards the fine leg region. The fielder at fine leg is a bit square but it would not have mattered as the ball sails over the ropes. These are some important and quick runs for the hosts. |
| 46.6 : J Bumrah to Ali, Beaten! Good comeback by Bumrah but is unlucky not to get the edge. Keeps this again on a length on off. Moves away on pitching and also beast the outside edge of Ali's bat. |
| 47.1 : R Ashwin to Curran, Tossed up ball on the off stump is defended off the front foot by Curran. |
| 47.2 : R Ashwin to Curran, No run. |
| 47.3 : R Ashwin to Curran, Risky! Curran sees the flight on this floated delivery on off, takes a few steps down the tack and tries to go over mid off. He is unable to get under the ball and hence does not get enough elevation. But it works in his favor as the ball if lofted in the air for a short while but falls short of the mid off fielder. Indians with their hands ion their heads. |
| 47.4 : R Ashwin to Curran, Ashwin misses his line and strays on Curran's pads, but the batsman keeps it out by defending. |
| 47.5 : R Ashwin to Curran, Tossed up around off, Curran guides it towards the point region. |
| 47.6 : R Ashwin to Curran, Tossed up on off, the ball pitches and turns away. Curran comes forward, smothers the spin and defends. |
| 48.1 : J Bumrah to Ali, Ali chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 48.2 : J Bumrah to Ali, On the hips, tucked to fine leg for a run. |
| 48.3 : J Bumrah to Curran, Fuller ball around middle and off, it swings away from Curran who does well to get behind the line to defend it. |
| 48.4 : J Bumrah to Curran, On a length down the leg stump, Curran misses the flick. |
| 48.5 : J Bumrah to Curran, Short of a length ball around off, defended. |
| 48.6 : J Bumrah to Curran, Again down the leg side from Bumrah. Curran looks get something on it but misses once again. |
| 49.1 : R Ashwin to Ali, Ashwin starts off with a full delivery floated outside off. Ali shoulders arms. |
| 49.2 : R Ashwin to Ali, Tossed up on middle and leg. Ali blocks it out. |
| 49.3 : R Ashwin to Ali, Bowls it a bit straighter on the leg stump line, Ali goes back and turns it around towards the deep square leg region for a single. |
| 49.4 : R Ashwin to Curran, This tossed up delivery just outside off is driven towards the cover region and the batsmen exchange strike. |
| 49.5 : R Ashwin to Ali, Slower through the air on the off stump, Ali comes forward and defends. |
| 49.6 : R Ashwin to M Ali, This full pitched ball on off is driven to the cover fielder. |
| Shami is back for the final over before Tea. |
| 50.1 : M Shami to Sam Curran, Chance of a run out for India? Shami bowls it fuller on the middle stump line. Curran stays back and defends it with a straight bat and takes off. The ball goes towards Ashwin at mid off who runs in, picks it up cleanly and underarms it to the non-striker's end but misses the stumps as Curran is seen diving inside the crease. The replay shows that he just made the crease before the ball passed the stumps. That brings up the 50-run stand between the duo. They need to |
| 50.2 : M Shami to Ali, Shami fires it on Ali's pads on just a back of a length. Ali stays back and flicks it to the deep square leg region. A run taken. |
| 50.3 : M Shami to Curran, Beaten! Shami is giving it his all but the edges are just not being found. He keeps it on a length just outside off. Curran tries to put bat on ball but misses as the ball beats his outside edge by a whisker. |
| 50.4 : M Shami to Curran, Curran comes forward and defends this full and straight ball. |
| 50.5 : M Shami to Curran, A fullish delivery on off is driven to mid off and they cross over quickly for a single. |
| 50.6 : M Shami to Ali, England's intensity is on show here. It's the last ball before the break and what do they do? They take a cheeky single. Shami keeps it just back of a length around off, Ali defends it from the crease and calls for a run. Curran responds well and they complete a good single. THAT'S TEA ON DAY 1! |
| Session highlights - 27 overs, 82 runs, 2 wickets. If the first session was dominated by the tourists, it can be said that this one belonged to England. The visitors continued to be on a roll after the break as well as Mohammed Shami removed Joss Buttler and Ben Stokes rather quickly. |
| However, some brave cricket and smart counter-attacking batting from both, Sam Curran and Moeen Ali, has seen England steady their ship a bit. There is still a lot of work for them to do though. India, on the other hand, would want to get through the England innings as quickly as possible. |
| ... Day 1, Session 3... |
| The players walk out after a warm cup of tea. The two left-handers in Moeen Ali and Sam Curran, who just crossed the fifty run mark will look to bat for as long as possible. India will continue with Ravi Ash. A slip and short leg for him. Let's go! |
| 51.1 : R Ashwin to Ali, Gives this air outside off, Moeen leans ahead and bunts it ahead. |
| 51.2 : R Ashwin to Ali, Rocks back and pushes the ball towards covers for an easy run. |
| 51.3 : R Ashwin to Curran, Goes back again and stonewalls this ball in front of him. |
| 51.4 : R Ashwin to Curran, Tossed up ball around off, Curran gets behind the ball and sees it off. |
| 51.5 : R Ashwin to Curran, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. . |
| 51.6 : R Ashwin to Curran, Sam has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| Mohammed Shami to bowl from the other end. |
| 52.1 : M Shami to Ali, Comes in from over the wicket and lands it full on that leg stump area. Ali flicks it away towards deep square leg to change ends. |
| 52.2 : M Shami to Curran, Full again on middle and leg, Curran turns his bat to the on side. |
| 52.3 : M Shami to Sam Curran, Pitches it up again, this time around off. Curran looks to tap it to the off side but gets a French cut which goes past the leg stump. They cross. |
| 52.4 : M Shami to Ali, Nice. Gets behind the ball and places the ball in the gap towards square leg for a brace. |
| 52.5 : M Shami to Ali, Full and around off, Ali is solid in defense. |
| 52.6 : M Shami to Ali, Good bowl from Shami. Darts it full on middle, Ali is late but does well to get bat to it. |
| 53.1 : R Ashwin to Curran, Hangs back and milks this through mid on for a easy single. |
| 53.2 : R Ashwin to Ali, Easy. Loopy ball in line of the stumps, Ali plays it with a straight bat. |
| 53.3 : R Ashwin to Ali, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 53.4 : R Ashwin to Ali, SIX! Huge! Full of confidence is Moeen! Reads the ball from Ashwin's hand. Steps down the track to this off leg spinner and smokes it over mid on for a biggie. |
| 53.5 : R Ashwin to Ali, Ashwin bowls this fuller outside off, Ali bunts it down. |
| 53.6 : R Ashwin to Ali, Good leave. Reads the spin again and is confident in what he is doing. This one is just outside off. Goes straight after pitching and Ali watches it go through. |
| 54.1 : M Shami to Curran, Covers his stumps and defends the ball from the crease. |
| 54.2 : M Shami to Curran, The batsman shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 54.3 : M Shami to Curran, Beauty! Skids through after pitching. Good length ball outside off, Curran feels for it but does not connect. |
| 54.4 : M Shami to Sam Curran, Changes his length by pitching it up. Curran drives it to mid off. |
| 54.5 : M Shami to Curran, Drags his length back, Sam goes back and punches it to the off side. |
| 54.6 : M Shami to Sam Curran, A bit short outside off, Curran reaches for it and cuts it through point to retain the strike. |
| 55.1 : R Ashwin to Curran, Off spinner outside off, Curran covers his stumps and leaves it alone. |
| 55.2 : R Ashwin to Curran, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. |
| 55.3 : R Ashwin to Curran, Comes forward and plays this into the ground. |
| Review time! Kohli has taken an LBW decision up against Sam Curran. Looks like it's going wide. |
| 55.4 : Ashwin to Curran, NOT OUT! Always looked like it was sliding down but India just to savior something take it up. Ashwin gives this air around off. It comes back in sharply and hits Sam on his back leg who is forward in defense. The players appeal in unison but the umpire stays put. After a long wait, Kohli reviews it. Replays show the ball would have clipped the leg stump. Umpire's call so India don't lose their review. |
| 55.5 : R Ashwin to Curran, Defended off the front foot by the batsman presenting the full face of the bat. |
| 55.6 : R Ashwin to Curran, SC drives this through the covers. |
| 56.1 : M Shami to Ali, Outside off, left alone. |
| 56.2 : M Shami to Ali, Around off, Ali blocks it well. |
| 56.3 : M Shami to Ali, Play and miss. Length ball around off, Ali looks to drive it but makes contact with thin air. |
| 56.4 : M Shami to Ali, Four Byes! What is Pant supposed to do with that? Nothing. Shami comes in from round the wicket and lands this on the leg stump. It pitches and swings away with the angle. Ali leaves it alone, Pant dives to his right but can't get anywhere close to it. The ball runs to the fine leg boundary. |
| 56.5 : M Shami to Ali, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 56.6 : M Shami to Ali, Moeen chooses to leave the ball outside his off stump. |
| 57.1 : R Ashwin to Curran, Tossed up ball around off, Curran hits it to the off side. |
| 57.2 : R Ashwin to Curran, Comes ahead and hits the ball towards the bowler. |
| 57.3 : R Ashwin to Curran, Pitched up ball around off, Curran drives it towards covers. |
| 57.4 : R Ashwin to Sam Curran, FOUR! Brilliant from Curran! The pitch has eased out now and Curran is making the most of it. Short ball outside off, sits up nicely for Sam who cuts it through point for a boundary. |
| 57.5 : R Ashwin to Curran, Short again around off, Sam punches this through covers to rotate strike. |
| 57.6 : R Ashwin to Ali, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| Ishant Sharma has been called back into the attack. |
| 58.1 : I Sharma to Curran, Fuller ball around off, Curran defends it getting behind the ball. |
| 58.2 : I Sharma to Curran, Drags his length back on the similar line, Curran punches it towards mid off. |
| 58.3 : I Sharma to Curran, Class! Doesn't go to the boundary but some confident stroke making from Curran. Another short ball outside off, Curran cuts it uppishly through point for two more runs. |
| 58.4 : I Sharma to Curran, Teased! Full and wide outside off. Curran who is supposed to leave that one goes for it but does not make any contact. |
| 58.5 : I Sharma to Curran, Defended off the back foot by the batsman. |
| 58.6 : I Sharma to Curran, Four Byes! Another one of those takes for the keeper! England is not a good place to keep. Sharma serves this down the leg side. Curran looks to flick it but does not make any contact. Pant once again dives to his right but cannot get glove to it. Boundary towards the fine leg region. |
| 59.1 : R Ashwin to Ali, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 59.2 : R Ashwin to Ali, Moeen flicks it away with a wristy shot. |
| 59.3 : R Ashwin to Ali, OUT! Finally! India break the 81-run stand and get closer in wrapping up England. Ashiwn tosses this up around off. Ali gets low on one knee and looks to sweep this away. Ends up getting a top edge to it. The ball balloons towards square leg where Bumrah runs in from the deep and takes a good forward catch. Ali misses a 50 but gets his team to a respectable total. |
| Adil Rashid comes out to bat. We all know he has the ability. Can he support Sam Curran and take England past 200? |
| 59.4 : R Ashwin to Curran, Ashwin floats this around off. It's the off spinner. Curran covers the stumps and looks to pad this from outside off. The ball hits his pad and goes towards the slip region. Stifled appeal but nothing from the umpire. |
| 59.5 : R Ashwin to Curran, Short one this time on middle and leg, Curran pulls it through mid-wicket for a run. |
| 59.6 : R Ashwin to Rashid, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 60.1 : I Sharma to Curran, Fuller in length on middle and leg, tucked around the corner for a single. |
| 60.2 : I Sharma to Rashid, Ishant hits the deck hard around the off stump channel. Adil gets behind the line and blocks it solidly. |
| 60.3 : I Sharma to Rashid, Edged but no harm done! Good length ball around off, straightening after landing to square Rashid up. He tries to block it but gets an outside edge which falls short of the gully fielder. |
| 60.4 : I Sharma to Rashid, Stump-to-stump line, Rashid camps back and answers it with a straight bat. |
| 60.5 : I Sharma to Rashid, Well played and well fielded! Full and too straight, Rashid flicks it nonchalantly through square leg. Shikhar Dhawan in the deep hares across to his left and dives full length to keep the ball in play. It is checked upstairs. The replay shows that he is fine. |
| 60.6 : I Sharma to Rashid, A big shout for an LBW falls on deaf ears! Full ball on off, swinging in like a banana. Adil Rashid falls over a bit as he fails to flick it and is struck on the pads. Ishant and Co rise up but the umpire shakes his head. Perhaps, that was doing too much. |
| 61.1 : R Ashwin to Curran, Darts this on the pads off Curran who plays it to the bowler with a straight bat. |
| 61.2 : R Ashwin to Curran, Stands tall and punches this ball for the mid off fielder to collect. |
| 61.3 : R Ashwin to Curran, Rocks back and cuts this ball towards cover-point. |
| 61.4 : R Ashwin to Curran, Short ball outside off, Curran pulls it but finds the man at mid-wicket. |
| 61.5 : R Ashwin to Curran, Finds the gap this time, punches this through covers to give his partner the strike. |
| 61.6 : R Ashwin to Rashid, Full and on the pads, flicked away to square leg. |
| 62.1 : I Sharma to Curran, Full and in line of the stumps, Curran opens the bat face and helps it to deep backward point for a run. |
| 62.2 : I Sharma to Rashid, Inswinger. Served full around off, the ball moves in the air. Rashid gets behind it and drives it along the turf. |
| 62.3 : I Sharma to Rashid, Nicely timed! Another full ball on middle and off. Rashid flicks it through mid-wicket. The man in the deep keeps it to just one. |
| 62.4 : I Sharma to Curran, Good length ball from over the wicket. Lands it around off, Curran bunts it down. |
| 62.5 : I Sharma to Curran, Good looking shot but straight to the man. Length ball moving away from Curran. He drives it superbly but to the man at short point. |
| 62.6 : I Sharma to Sam Curran, Pitches it up again. Outside off. Curran plays it with soft hands towards mid off and thinks of the run. A loud NO from his partner and they decide against it. |
| Jasprit Bumrah in for another spell. |
| 63.1 : J Bumrah to Rashid, Full outside off, Rashid leaves it alone. |
| 63.2 : J Bumrah to Rashid, Length ball around off. It nips back into Rashid who looks to hit it to the on side. Gets extra bounce which hits him on his glove. The ball goes to the off side and they cross. |
| 63.3 : J Bumrah to Curran, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 63.4 : J Bumrah to Curran, Length ball around off, well blocked. |
| 63.5 : J Bumrah to Curran, Runs in from over the wicket and lands it with an angle around off. Sam is solid in defense. |
| 63.6 : J Bumrah to Curran, Stays inside and drives this ball towards the bowler. |
| 64.1 : I Sharma to Rashid, Bangs it a tad short. Rashid hops and just tickles it away through fine leg. The fielder in the deep mops it up and keeps it to two. |
| 64.2 : I Sharma to Rashid, The batsman has attempted to put bat on ball - but fails. |
| 64.3 : Sharma to Rashid, OUT! Ishant gets his man! No reviews left for England and Rashid has to walk back. Ishant serves this full on middle and leg. The ball moves in the air and comes in after pitching. Rashid is caught on his back foot trying to flick the ball. Misses it and gets hit on his pads. The Indians appeal and the umpire takes his time in raising his finger. Sadly for England, the replay shows that would have gone to miss the leg stump. This is Ashwin's 100th away wicket in Tests, he |
| Stuart Broad is the new man in. |
| 64.4 : I Sharma to S Broad, Inside edge but safe. Length ball on middle and leg. Broad gets an inside edge and the ball goes towards the on side. Away from the fielder which enables them to cross. |
| 64.5 : I Sharma to Curran, Curran gets behind the ball and hits it to the off side. Gives Broad one ball to face. |
| 64.6 : I Sharma to Broad, Broad survives. Gets behind the ball and sees it off. |
| 65.1 : J Bumrah to Curran, Comes in from over the wicket and serves it outside off. Curran looks to go after it but cannot make any contact. India will have to be wary of Curran. He will look to tee off with the tail like he did at Edgbaston. |
| 65.2 : J Bumrah to Curran, Driven by Curran to the cover region. |
| 65.3 : J Bumrah to Curran, The batsman defends it from within the crease. |
| 65.4 : J Bumrah to Curran, Four Byes! Make that 18 byes for the innings. Another one of those full pitched ball down the leg side. Curran is late is getting his bat down and losing his complete balance. Pant jumps to his right but the ball evades him. Has a smirk on his face as he knows he can't do anything about it. |
| 65.5 : J Bumrah to Curran, The batsman opens the face of the bat and helps it to third man. They pick up a single. |
| 65.6 : Bumrah to Broad, Full and down leg. Broad cannot get bat to ball. Hits his leg and goes away from the fielder to the on side. The pinch a single. The umpire signals Leg Bye. |
| 66.1 : I Sharma to Broad, Outside off, easy leave for Broad. |
| 66.2 : I Sharma to Broad, Length ball on middle and leg, Broad hops and looks to tuck it away. Misses it to get hit on his thigh pad. |
| 66.3 : I Sharma to Broad, Similar ball. On a good length on middle and leg. Broad goes back but does not get bat to it. They steal another leg bye. |
| 66.4 : I Sharma to Curran, Four Byes! Oh dear! Pant hides his face. bad line from Sharma. Bowls this down the leg side again, to far for Curran to flick it. Pant runs and dives to his right. And just like before, to no-avail. |
| 66.5 : I Sharma to Curran, FOUR! SHOT! Curran moves to 47! The young teen once again taking the game away from the Indians. Sharma corrects his length by bowling it too far outside off. Curran uses his fast hands and cuts it through point for a boundary. |
| 66.6 : I Sharma to Curran, Stays inside his crease and is happy to give Broad the strike for the next over. |
| 67.1 : J Bumrah to Broad, The batsman shoulders arms to let that one through. |
| 67.2 : J Bumrah to Broad, Outside off again, left alone. |
| 67.3 : J Bumrah to Broad, Broad shows the full face of the bat and defends the ball off the back foot. |
| 67.4 : J Bumrah to Broad, Hangs back and defends this ball in front of him. |
| 67.5 : J Bumrah to Broad, On a good length on the pads of Broad who works it to the leg side. |
| 67.6 : J Bumrah to Broad, Back of a length ball on the hips of Broad who stands tall and bunts it down. |
| Drinks! Last one of the day. Meanwhile, Ravichandran Ashwin comes back for a bowl. |
| 68.1 : R Ashwin to Curran, Full ball on middle and leg, going down. Curran tries to flick it away but is hit on the pads. |
| 68.2 : R Ashwin to Curran, SIX! What a way to get to his second Test fifty! This young lad certainly packs a punch and has a matured head on his young shoulders. Kneels to the tossed up ball and whacks it over long on for a maximum. He has helped England make a comeback, being the chief architect behind it. The 200 also comes up for England. |
| 68.3 : R Ashwin to Sam Curran, Edged but safe! Floated around off, Curran pushes at it but gets an outside edge past the slip fielder. A couple taken. |
| 68.4 : R Ashwin to Curran, The batsman has played that off the front foot and into the ground. |
| 68.5 : R Ashwin to Curran, FOUR! These are handy runs for England. Coming in with the arm, Curran clears his front leg, lines it up and drags his heave through mid-wicket to find the fence. |
| 68.6 : R Ashwin to Sam Curran, Quicker in pace on middle and leg, played off the inner half towards the man at 45. 12 from the over. |
| Double change. Hardik Pandya is back for a burst. |
| 69.1 : H Pandya to Broad, Good length ball on off, Broad hangs back and blocks it stoutly. |
| 69.2 : H Pandya to Broad, Beaten! On a length, leaving Stuart. He fishes at it and misses. |
| 69.3 : H Pandya to Broad, Four Leg Byes! The extras count has moved to 33, shoddy stuff from India. Down the leg side, Broad tries to glance it but the ball brushes his pads and goes past the diving Pant once again to the ropes. |
| 69.4 : H Pandya to Broad, In the air... but safe! Full ball attacking the stumps, Broad chips it but mistimes it over wide mid on. It is in no man's land and the batsmen take a couple. |
| 69.5 : H Pandya to Broad, Runs are coming thick and fast now! Broad swings at a length ball outside off and gets it overs covers. Three runs taken. |
| 69.6 : H Pandya to Curran, Short ball, Curran pulls it in front of square leg for a couple. 11 from this one, 23 from the last two. |
| Time for the review! It is regarding an LBW appeal against Stuart Broad. Pant is really confident and suggests his skipper to take the review which he agrees to. The point of impact might save the batsman. |
| 70.1 : R Ashwin to Broad, Not Out! Yes, the impact has saved Broad. Coming in with the arm, Stuart comes ahead to defend it but misses to get pinged on the pads. Ashwin appeals vociferously but the umpire thinks otherwise. The keeper is convinced and Kohli listens to him to signal the 'T'. Time for the replays. There is nothing on the Snicko. The Hawk Eye rolls in and the impact is just outside off. The ball just brushed the front pad before hitting the back pad. That was taken into account by th |
| 70.2 : R Ashwin to S Broad, Driven towards the mid off region. |
| 70.3 : R Ashwin to S Broad, Full ball around off, driven crisply to the man at mid off. |
| 70.4 : R Ashwin to S Broad, Almost a replica of the previous delivery as it is pushed to mid off again. |
| 70.5 : R Ashwin to Broad, Tossed up around off, eased off the front foot to mid off. |
| 70.6 : R Ashwin to Broad, FOUR! Streaky but they all count! Broad leans ahead to defend but gets an outside edge. Rahane at first slip is a bit late to react and the ball goes past him to the fence. |
| 71.1 : H Pandya to Curran, Finally Pant collects one! Down the leg side, Sam fails to tickle it away. The keeper moves to his right and takes it nicely. |
| 71.2 : H Pandya to Curran, Smart from Sam! He moves inside the line to the good length ball and works it away to deep backward square leg for a couple. |
| 71.3 : H Pandya to Broad, The batsman flicks it away with a wristy shot. They manage to come back for the second. |
| 71.4 : H Pandya to Broad, Short of a length outside off, flayed away through point for three runs. The 50-run stand has come between the two and that too only in 43 balls. A brilliant counter-attack this has been. The English camp is all smiles. |
| 71.5 : H Pandya to Curran, Surprise bouncer from Pandya, Curran fails to hook it away. |
| 71.6 : H Pandya to Curran, Makes use of the depth of the crease to clip it away through square leg for a single. |
| Mohammed Shami returns. |
| 72.1 : M Shami to Curran, Nothing is working for India at the moment! Full ball on off, Curran attempts to hit it down the ground but gets a thick inside edge down towards fine leg. A run taken. |
| 72.2 : M Shami to Broad, Better from Shami. He hits the deck hard and bowls a well-directed bouncer. Broad sways away awkwardly to evade it. |
| 72.3 : M Shami to Broad, Sprays this one down the leg side, Broad tries to put bat on ball but only connects with thin air. |
| 72.4 : M Shami to Broad, Width on offer outside off, Broad slices it uppishly towards deep backward point for a run. |
| 72.5 : M Shami to Sam Curran, Similar ball outside off, flayed away again to the same region for a single. |
| 72.6 : M Shami to Broad, On a length on middle and leg, Broad wants to help it away but is struck on the thigh pad. |
| Jasprit Bumrah returns. |
| 73.1 : Bumrah to Curran, There is no one in the deep, Curran continues to flourish. Slower ball from Bumrah on middle and leg. Curran is foxed and is early into his shot. Ends up chipping it down the ground and comes back for a brace. |
| 73.2 : J Bumrah to Sam Curran, FOUR! Going from bad to worse for India! Their shoulders are drooping. Short and asking for trouble, Curran stands tall and slaps it behind point for a rocketing boundary. |
| 73.3 : J Bumrah to Curran, On a length on off, Curran looks to tap and run by trying to play it towards point but gets an inside edge onto his pads. Eventually, the ball rolls to the same area and the batsmen cross. |
| 73.4 : J Bumrah to Broad, The batsman rocks onto the back foot and punches the ball. They pick up a single. |
| 73.5 : J Bumrah to Curran, Good running! On a length on middle, Curran taps it to mid off and scurries to the other end. |
| Hardik Pandya has something to advice to Bumrah. Meanwhile, there is a change of bat for Broad. |
| 73.6 : J Bumrah to Broad, OUT! The change of bat has led to doom for Broad! Jasprit Bumrah has provided the much-needed breakthrough for India and he lets out a grunt. He steams in from around the wicket and bowls a good length ball around off. It hits the deck and comes with the natural angle as Broad is late to bring his bat in time and is hit in front of the wickets. The visitors appeal in unison and the umpire raises the dreaded finger. Stuart was beaten for pace there. The 63-run stand from |
| James Anderson is the last man in. |
| 74.1 : M Shami to Curran, Short ball, Curran ducks under it. |
| 74.2 : M Shami to Curran, Back of a length ball outside off, Sam shuffles across and tries to work it to the leg side but misses. |
| 74.3 : Shami to Curran, FOUR! Straight as an arrow! Full ball on middle, Curran lifts it over the bowler for a boundary. |
| 74.4 : M Shami to Curran, The batsman works it down the leg side. The batsmen have run through for a single. Anderson has two balls to survive. Can he do so? |
| 74.5 : M Shami to Anderson, Back of a length ball, Anderson gets behind it and defends it nicely. |
| 74.6 : M Shami to Anderson, He survives! Shortish ball down the leg side, James moves inside the line and evades it. |
| 75.1 : J Bumrah to Sam Curran, On a length outside off, dabbed towards point. |
| 75.2 : J Bumrah to Curran, Sent back by Anderson! Back of a length ball outside off, Curran glides it to third man and starts haring across to the other end. He looks at James and the No 11 has his hand up. Sam turns back and reaches his crease. Anderson has a smile on his face and Curran smiles back. |
| 75.3 : J Bumrah to Curran, Short of a length ball on off, kept out watchfully. |
| 75.4 : J Bumrah to Curran, In the arc but not out of the park! Fuller length ball, angling in, Curran backs away and tries to send this out of Southampton but misses. |
| 75.5 : J Bumrah to Curran, Full length ball attacking the stumps, Sam comes ahead and defends it calmly. |
| 75.6 : J Bumrah to Curran, Smart choice from Bumrah! Dug in short by him, Curran ducks under it. Anderson has to survive the next over. |
| Ashwin is back. |
| 76.1 : R Ashwin to Anderson, Floated around off, Anderson comes forward and blocks it. |
| 76.2 : R Ashwin to Anderson, Bye! Down the leg side, Anderson tries to put bat on ball but misses. Pant fails to collect it as well and a single is taken. |
| 76.3 : R Ashwin to Sam Curran, Slower through the air, defended towards mid off. |
| 76.4 : Ashwin to Sam Curran, OUT! Bowled 'em! Tossed up ball on middle and off, Curran clears his front leg and tries to slog it across the line but misses to get his stumps shattered. A top knock from him though. ENGLAND ARE BOWLED OUT FOR 246! |
| A terrific display with the bat from Sam Curran has helped England to put up a decent total on the board. Considering that they were 86/6 and that they almost reached the 250-run mark deserves credit. Earlier, things were not rosy for the hosts though. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, their top order was found wanting against some penetrative Indian pace bowling. |
| The duo of Bumrah and Sharma were relentless and didn't allow the Englishmen to get any sort of momentum. The move to promote Bairstow to No 4 didn't work too. Shami bowled a fierce first spell as well and picked up two quick wickets. After that, Ali and Curran got together and played some shots. |
| That unsettled the visitors and the ball getting softer helped England's cause. The duo stitched a 50-run stand. Though Moeen fell, Curran mixed caution with aggression to perfection. He shepherded the tail smartly and scored a gutsy fifty just the way he did in the first Test at Edgbaston. India will be ruing the fact that they didn't capitalize when they had the home side staring down the barrel. They have a tricky phase of around 20 minutes to play out. England will be aiming to make some ear |
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