India (IND) vs England (ENG), 4th Test, Day 2 Highlights: Shoaib Bashir’s remarkable performance with figures of 4/84 has firmly placed England in control at stumps during the Ranchi Test. Bashir’s relentless 32-over spell played a pivotal role in maintaining England’s grip on India. At the close of play, Dhruv Jurel stood unbeaten, steering India to a total of 219/7. In a pitch showcasing unpredictable bounce, India trails England by 134 runs. The day’s play has set the stage for an intriguing continuation of the Test match.
Cricket enthusiasts witnessed a day filled with riveting action as Day 2 of the test match unfolded. The MA Chidambaram Stadium was the stage for intense battles between the cricketing giants, with England holding a slight advantage over India by the end of the day.
England’s Strong Start:
The day began with England’s overnight partnership proving resilient. Joe Root, England’s skipper, anchored the innings with a gritty unbeaten century, frustrating the Indian bowlers. Meanwhile, Ollie Robinson played his shots freely, reaching his maiden Test half-century. However, just before the hour mark, Robinson’s attempt at something different cost him his wicket, followed by the quick dismissal of the last two batters. Despite this, England posted a commendable total of 353, a significant score on the challenging wicket.
England Applies Pressure:
When India came out to bat, the visitors applied pressure immediately. Veteran James Anderson showcased his class by removing the Indian skipper Rohit Sharma early on, setting the tone for the innings. However, the young Indian duo of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill held firm for the rest of the session. They navigated through a testing spell from the English bowlers, ensuring no further damage to India’s innings.
Challenges Faced by India:
After Lunch, Shubman Gill settled in quickly and began scoring freely, finding the boundary regularly. Yashasvi Jaiswal, on the other hand, had to navigate through a testing spell from Ollie Robinson and survived a close call when an edge didn’t carry to the keeper. Nonetheless, he showed resilience and brought up yet another half-century in this series. However, just as the partnership was blossoming, Shoaib Bashir trapped Gill lbw with a beautiful delivery, swinging momentum in England’s favor. He then went on to dismiss Rajat Patidar and Ravindra Jadeja cheaply, further denting India’s hopes before the end of the session. Despite the setbacks, Jaiswal remained steadfast, and Sarfaraz Khan joined him to initiate a rebuilding phase for the hosts.
India’s Fightback:
In the third session, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan initially provided stability, but Stokes’ astute captaincy applied pressure, making scoring difficult. Jaiswal fell victim to Shoaib Bashir, misjudging a delivery and dragging it onto his stumps. Shortly after, Sarfaraz departed to Tom Hartley’s bowling, followed by Ravichandran Ashwin’s dismissal. Despite the setbacks, Dhruv Jurel showcased defensive prowess and, alongside Kuldeep Yadav, ensured no further wickets fell before Stumps, adding crucial 42 runs for the hosts.
Looking Ahead to Day 3:
As the players left the field, a captivating day of Test cricket drew to a close. The session summary revealed 88 runs and 3 wickets in 35 overs, with England pleased with their performance and a commanding position heading into the crucial ‘Moving Day.’ Shoaib Bashir emerged as the standout performer on Day 2, delivering a marathon spell and making crucial breakthroughs. He also achieved his best figures in first-class cricket with a four-fer, showcasing his impact on the game.
Day 3 is set to commence on 25th February, Sunday, at 9:30 am IST (4 am GMT). While England holds a slight advantage, India’s resistance, particularly through Dhruv Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav, offers hope for a resilient comeback. Cricket enthusiasts are encouraged to join in earlier for all the pre-match analysis and witness the continuation of this thrilling test match. Cheers to more exciting moments on the horizon!
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