In a gripping display of skill, veteran off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin showcased his prowess by taking three crucial wickets, leaving England reeling at 194/6 in 42.4 overs at lunch on day four of the second Test at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.
Facing the daunting task of chasing a record 399 to win, England resumed their innings at 67/1 in 14 overs. In a session filled with aggressive batting, they managed to add 127 runs but lost five wickets, firmly placing India in the driver’s seat for a potential victory.
With 205 more runs required for victory, England’s hopes rest on the shoulders of Captain Ben Stokes, who is at the crease. Despite a spirited performance by the Indian bowlers, Zak Crawley and Rehan Ahmed initially challenged them, accumulating boundaries with an attacking style of play. However, Axar struck first, dismissing Rehan lbw.
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Ollie Pope continued the fight with an assertive sweep and reverse-sweep off Axar, while Crawley notched up his second fifty in the match with an elegant shot over mid-off. Pope’s determined innings came to an end when a thick outside edge found the hands of Rohit Sharma at first slip.
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Despite Root’s aggressive start, miscues led to his dismissal off Ravichandran Ashwin, and Bairstow added solidity to the innings with well-timed drives and sweeps. However, momentum shifted as Crawley fell lbw to Kuldeep Yadav, and Bumrah trapped Bairstow in front, leaving England in a precarious position at lunch.
The session concluded with India in high spirits, holding a significant advantage in the match.
–IANS
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