Lord's Test: India's tail keeps England bowlers at bay

THE see-saw battle in the second Test match between England and India continued at the Lord’s cricket Ground on the fifth day (16) as the home team was off to a disastrous start while chasing 272 runs to win the game and take 1-0 lead.

Jasprit Bumrah picked Rory Burns for a duck while his opening partner Mohammed Shami dismissed the other opener, Dom Sibley, also for no score. The hosts were close to losing their third as Haseeb Hameed edged one from Shami but Rohit Sharma dropped him.

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But Bumrah and Shami’s heroics did not start with the cherry. The duo rescued India with the bat earlier in the day by adding unbeaten 89 runs for the ninth wicket in 20 overs. While Shami hit his second Test half-century and the career-best 56 not out off 70 balls, Bumrah also hit his career-best 34 not out in 64 deliveries. India declared soon after lunch at 298 for 8, taking a lead of 271 runs and left 60 overs for the hosts to achieve the target.

Seamer Mark Wood was the best of the Indian bowlers with 3 for 51 while fellow pacer Ollie Robinson took 2 for 45 and spinner Moeen Ali took 2 for 84. Sam Curran took one for 42.

India started the day at 181 for 6 with a lead of 154 runs and lost Rishabh Pant (22 off 46) early. Ishant Sharma scored 16 off 24 and after his fall at the team score of 209, the Shami-Bumrah partnership took India to a strong position.

Brief scores: India 364 & 298/8 declared England 391 & 32/2 (match underway)