The Ben Stokes-led England made a good comeback on Day 2 as they bowled out India for 445. Ravindra Jadeja departed early in the first session but the partnership between Ravichandran Ashwin and debutant Dhruv Jurel got India past 400. Later, Jasprit Bumrah’s fireworks frustrated England bowlers and helped India get crucial runs on the board.
Early wickets in first session
Starting at an overnight score of 326/5, James Anderson struck early to dismiss nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav. The left-handed batter scored just four runs from 24 balls. Then Joe Root did the damage with the ball. Ravindra Jadeja was dismissed caught and bowled. The all-rounder scored 112 runs from 225 balls including nine fours and two sixes.
Jurel shows promise on debut
Debutant Jurel broke the shackles with an uppercut to hit Mark Wood for a six. A few overs later, umpire Joel Wilson signalled five penalty runs as he said that Ashwin was running in the middle of the pitch. No more wickets fell in the first session as India were 388/7.
Early into the second session, Ollie Pope dropped a straightforward catch of Jurel at midwicket. He was batting on 32 then. India crossed the 400-run mark in the 117th over. Jurel got another reprieve when Stokes dropped his catch at leg slip in Wood's over. The wicketkeeper-batter decided to take more risks and hit Rehan Ahmed for a six. But in the same over, Ashwin lost his wicket. He was caught by Anderson at mid-on. The all-rounder scored 37 runs from 89 balls including six fours. The two batters shared a 77-run partnership for the eighth wicket.
Bumrah’s cameo stretches India’s score
In Rehan's next over, Jurel hit another six. But the leg spinner had the last laugh as a flatter delivery outside off managed to get an outside edge. He departed after scoring 46 runs from 104 balls including a couple of fours and three sixes. After facing 10 dot deliveries, Bumrah decided to take on Tom Hartley and hit him for a six. He targetted Rehan and hit two boundaries. In the 131st over, Wood trapped him in front of the stumps. He departed after scoring 26 runs from 28 balls. But his cameo took India's score to 445.
It is to be noted that England will start their first innings at 5/0 as penalty runs were awarded by the umpire.
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