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Yashasvi Jaiswal’s unbeaten 51 guided India to 75/2 at stumps on day two of the fifth Test against England, securing a 52-run lead.
India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal hit an unbeaten fifty (PTI)
Mohammed Siraj delivered a remarkable spell, and Prasidh Krishna cleaned up the tail to script India’s spirited comeback after a brutal assault from England openers on day two of the fifth and final Test on Friday.
After a dismal opening session where Siraj and his colleagues were hammered by Ben Duckett (43 off 38) and Zak Crawley (64 off 57), the Indian pacers redeemed themselves by bowling out England for 247 in the final session, giving the hosts only a slender 23-run lead.
Both Siraj and Prasidh ended with four-wicket hauls.
India lost the dependable K L Rahul (7 off 28) in their second innings to a rare loose shot. At close, India were 75 for two in 18 overs, leading England by 52 runs.
India Vs England: 5th Test, Day 2 – Highlights
Yashasvi Jaiswal (51 not out off 49) batted with aggressive intent despite being dropped twice, while Sai Sudharsan (11) was trapped in front by Gus Atkinson shortly before stumps.
Jaiswal got going with three fours in Atkinson’s opening over, including a sublime straight drive before being given reprieves on 20 and 40. He brought up his third fifty of the series with a ramp off Jamie Overton that went all the way.
Close to stumps, a third catch was dropped when Zak Crawley grassed a straightforward chance offered by Sudharsan at third slip.
Before that, England were bowled out in the final session following Harry Brook’s aggressive 53 off 64 balls. The highlight of his innings was a falling sweep off Siraj that went for six.
In the afternoon session, Siraj struck thrice in a fiery eight-over spell. At tea, England were 215 for seven, effectively eight down with Chris Woakes not available to bat due to a shoulder injury.
The wickets to fall included England’s batting mainstay Joe Root (29 off 45), Zak Crawley (64 off 57), stand-in captain Ollie Pope (22 off), and Jacob Bethell (6 off 14).
A heated exchange of words between Root and Prasidh was also a talking point of the session.
After being blown away by the England openers in the opening session, Indian pacers found their lengths post the break. Prasidh sent back Crawley, who mistimed a pull to be caught at midwicket.
Siraj got rid of Pope and Root with a nip-backer before firing an inswinging yorker into Bethell’s pads. The pitch continues to assist seamers.
Whether targeting the pads with the wobbled seam or producing late swing, Siraj was relentless, showing he did not believe in workload management.
Prasidh also impressed, striking thrice in the session, including the wickets of Jamie Smith and Overton at the stroke of tea.
In the morning passage, Crawley and Duckett smashed the Indian pacers with absolute disdain on a seaming surface after bundling out the visitors for 224 in the first half hour of play.
Duckett (43 off 38) and Crawley hit boundaries with ease on a green surface, where Atkinson deservedly took a wicket haul by removing three Indian batters shortly after play began. The hosts raced to 109 for one in 16 overs at lunch.
The trio of Akash Deep, Siraj, and Prasidh ran out of ideas against the onslaught from the England openers. To their relief, Duckett was caught behind 15 minutes before lunch, attempting another reverse hit off Akash. The opening stand yielded 92 runs off just 77 balls.
Akash surprisingly wrapped his arm around Duckett and gave him a send-off with a smile.
Crawley collected five of his 12 fours off Siraj, including a straight drive, a punch through covers, and a flick towards mid-wicket. He completed his fifty with a boundary in the third-man region off Akash.
Duckett deliberately disturbed the pacers’ rhythm by dancing down the track at will, using the cut on the charge twice against Akash.
He pulled off a reverse scoop off the pacer before playing a ramp for a maximum off Siraj soon after.
Pope joined Crawley and began with a couple of sweetly-timed cover drives.
In the first 30 minutes of play, India lost four wickets for just 20 runs after resuming the day at 204 for six.
Overnight batters Karun Nair (57 off 109) and Washington Sundar (26 off 55) perished in quick succession before Atkinson polished off the tail.
Brief Scores:
India: 224 & 75/2 in 18 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 51 not out; Josh Tongue 1/25)
England: 247 all out in 51.2 overs (Zak Crawley 64, Harry Brook 53 ; Mohammed Siraj 4/86, Prasidh Krishna 4/62.
(With inputs from PTI)
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha…Read More
Ritayan Basu, Senior Sub-Editor, Sports at News18.com. Has been covering domestic and and international football for nearly a decade. Has played and covered badminton. Ocassionally writes on cricket content, ha… Read More
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