England skipper Ben Stokes is prone to changing the complexion of a match. It can be from his explosive batting, proactive captaincy, or jaw-dropping fielding. On Day 3 of the ongoing second Test between India and England in Visakhapatnam, Stokes delivered another moment of magic on the field and changed the momentum of the match, just like he did in the first match in Hyderabad by running out Ravindra Jadeja with a spectacular piece of fielding.
In the morning session of Day 3 of the ongoing Vizag Test, Stokes showcased his exceptional fielding skills and took a breathtaking catch to dismiss India's Shreyas Iyer, injecting a new surge of energy into the match for the visiting team.
Iyer, attempting to heave a delivery from Tom Hartley for a six, ended up launching the ball skyward, prompting a determined chase from Stokes. Despite the catch seeming improbable, Stokes, with remarkable agility reminiscent of a gymnast, dashed backwards 22 meters from his position at mid-off. Demonstrating incredible athleticism and focus, he executed a spectacular dive to secure the catch, leading to an exuberant celebration from the England captain.
Watch the video of Ben Stokes' catch to dismiss Shreyas Iyer:
James Anderson's fiery spell pegs India back early on Day 3
The day had already started on a high note for England thanks to James Anderson's brilliant bowling, which quickly removed the formidable Indian openers. Anderson, leveraging his skill and experience, delivered a critical blow to India by dismissing Rohit Sharma and the double-centurion from the previous innings, Yashasvi Jaiswal, in his first two overs of the day. This double strike by Anderson early on swung the momentum significantly in England's favor.
Following Anderson's lead, England appeared poised to dominate the session. However, with Anderson resting, India's Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer seized the opportunity to stabilize their team's innings. The pair diligently built an 81-run partnership, tactically navigating the bowling of Hartley and Shoaib Bashir to rekindle India's hopes and accelerate their scoring.
Their collaboration was proving to be a turning point for India, blending resilience with strategic batting. Nevertheless, Stokes' incredible catch to dismiss Iyer not only ended the promising partnership but also demonstrated England's relentless pursuit of victory. A few overs later, Rehan Ahmed dismissed Rajat Patidar and India were restricted to 130/4 at lunch on Day 3 and stretched the lead to 273 runs.Â
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