Rajkot: Two dropped catches by wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha in successive Umesh Yadav (1/112) overs enabled Ben Stokes (128, 235b, 13×4, 2×6) to get his fourth Test hundred as England posted a massive 537 all out on the second day of the first Test at the Saurashtra Cricket Association (CSA) Stadium, here Thursday. Openers Gautam Gambhir (28 batting) and Murali Vijay (25 batting) also started the reply on a positive note to take India to 63 without loss at stumps.
Stokes was the third century-maker in the England innings after overnight batsman Moeen Ali (117, 213b, 13×4) got to his fifth Test hundred early in the day. India were lucky to get Moeen out as he shouldered arms to a Mohammed Shami (2/65) delivery to have his stumps pegged back. But before his departure, along with Stokes, Moeen had put on 62 runs for the fifth wicket, to put England in a position of strength.
Stokes innings was a bit fortuitous though as Saha grassed him when the batsman was 60 and 61. The first catch was extremely difficult, but the second was a regulation one and the England all-rounder made India pay heavily for it.
Moeen’s departure saw the advent of Jonny Bairstow (46, 57b, 5×4, 2×6) at the crease. He batted briskly and put on 99 runs for the sixth wicket with Stokes to put England in a position from where they cannot lose this game.
The Indian spinners were plundered in the first session with 139 runs coming in 30 overs. Such was the predicament of Ravi Ashwin (2/167) that he was forced to bowl with a fielder at cover – something which had never happened in the preceding New Zealand series. Whatever, may be the outcome of the series, the way the English batters tackled Ashwin, it was clear that they had planned a strategy against him. On Indian pitches, inside out shots are rarely played against a good off-spinner. But Joe Root, Moeen, Stokes and Bairstow, whenever they had the chance attacked Ashwin to hit him over the covers.
Stokes finally fell half an hour after lunch to the luckless Yadav and this time when he nicked the ball, Saha did not make a mistake. But before that he had eased England past the 500-run mark. After Ravindra Jadeja (3/86) had removed Chris Woakes (4) and Adil Rashid (5) in quick success Zafar Ansari (32, 83b, 3×4) added 52 valuable runs for the ninth wicket with Stokes. Leg-spinner Amit Mishra (1/98) finally finished off the visitors’ innings when he had Ansari leg before attempting a sweep to a top-spinner.
In the 23 overs they batted, the Indian openers did look circumspect with the pitch breaking up a wee bit quicker than expected. Friday would be an acid Test for the Indian batters as they need another 275 runs to avoid the follow-on. As things stand, it would be an extremely difficult task as the pitch has started to do some ‘talking’.
Both Vijay and Gambhir were beaten early on by the England pacers Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes. But they never missed out on scoring opportunities. Three of the four boundaries hit by Vijay came off one Broad over, the first two elegant cover drives and the third a lazy black slap through midwicket.
Gambhir on the other hand bided his time and when leg-spinner Adil Rashid dropped one short he was quick to pounce on it and hit it to the point delivery. However, Rashid was unlucky as he beat Gambhir with a beautiful googly, the penultimate delivery of the day, but failed to get the resultant edge.
Press Trust of India
