Shoaib Bashir-inspired England kept Indian batters in check to take the Day 2 honours in the fourth Test despite Yashasvi Jaiswal's resilient show on February 24, Saturday. At the end of Day 2's game, India found themselves reeling at 219/7 as England maintain the lead of 134 runs to consolidate grip on Ranchi Test. Dhruv Jurel (30 off 58) and Kuldeep Yadav (17 off 72) hold India's fort after hosts found themselves reeling at 177/7. Shoaib Bashir ran through India's batting line-up, removing four of top five batters earlier in the day.
Bashir guns down India's top order
During Day 2's second session, Bashir capitalised on India's relatively green batting lineup, taking three wickets. India's innings began with a setback as captain Rohit Sharma was dismissed by James Anderson, leaving India at 34/1 by lunch after having bowled England out for 353 in their first innings.
Shubman Gill (38) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (73) then forged an 82-run partnership for the second wicket, stabilizing India's innings until Bashir got Gill out LBW. Rajat Patidar and Ravindra Jadeja were the next to fall, both to Bashir, resulting in India losing three wickets in the session for less than 100 runs.
Entering the final session at 131/4, Jaiswal's crucial wicket was also taken by Bashir, bringing India down to 161/5. Subsequently, Tom Hartley claimed the wickets of Sarfaraz Khan and Ravi Ashwin, pushing India into a precarious position at 177/7.
Jurel, Kuldeep hold India's fort
However, Jurel and spinner Kuldeep Yadav fought back with an unbroken partnership of 42 runs for the eighth wicket, thwarting England's hopes for a substantial lead after Hartley's successive wickets.
Root-Robinson rescue England
England had resumed the day from their overnight score of 302/7 with Ollie Robinson and Joe Root at the crease, adding 51 runs for the eighth wicket. Robinson, who scored a commendable 58, was eventually dismissed by Jadeja. Although England's last two batsmen fell quickly, Joe Root remained not out at 122. The one between Root and Robinson was England's third 100-plus partnership in the ongoing five-match series. Notably, each of the three 100-plus stands have come for sixth wicket or lower.
For India, Jadeja claimed 4 wickets for 67 runs, debutant pacer Akash Deep captured 3 for 83, Mohammed Siraj took 2 for 78, and Ashwin managed 1 for 83.
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