- Monday, April 29, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIA scripted a superb comeback in the second Test against England at Lord’s to defeat the home team by 151 runs and go 1-0 up in the five-match series.
Chasing a target of 272 in 60 overs that India set them after declaring their second innings at 298 for 8, England struggled with their bat to get bundled out for just 120 runs.
The tourists were the less favoured of the two sides at stumps on Day 4 as they were reduced to 181 for 6, managing a lead of 154. They lost their seventh wicket quickly on Day 5 as Rishabh Pant returned for 22. But India’s tail had other thoughts as they put up 104 runs after Pant’s departure, losing just one wicket in the process (Ishant Sharma scored 16).
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Mohammed Shami belted his second Test fifty (56 not out off 70) and Jasprit Bumrah made his career-best 34 not out (off 64 balls) to take India close to 300, leaving the English side frustrated. Kohli eventually declared the innings after the duo added 89 runs in 20 overs, taking the lead to 271.
England look strong despite Pujara-Rahane wall
For England, pacer Mark Wood was the most successful bowler with 3 wickets for 51 runs while Ollie Robinson and Moeen Ali took two wickets each. Sam Curran took the wicket of Kohli.
England were off to a disastrous start as both their openers — Rory Burns and Dom Sibley — fell for no score. Shami (1 for 13) and Bumrah (3 for 33) put up a fantastic show with the new ball and Mohammed Siraj (4 for 32) and Sharma (2 for 13) delivered the killing blow. The home team could produce little resistance apart from the 43-run partnership between Haseeb Hameed (9 off 45) and captain Joe Root (33 off 60) and were left reeling at 90 for 7 in the 39th over.
Jos Butter (25 off 96), Ali (13 off 42) and Robinson (9 off 35) tried desperately to deny the Indians the victory but they found the Indian pace battery too hot to handle. Siraj bowled England No.11 James Anderson to give his team a win that looked elusive in the middle days after India made a strong start to the game on Day 1. KL Rahul, who scored a century in the first innings, was declared the man of the match.
India got 12 points in the World Test Championship as a result of this win. The first Test match at Trent Bridge was drawn because of rain.
The third Test starts at Leeds on August 25.
Brief Score: India 364 & 298/8 declared beat England 391 & 120 by 151 runs
