Published: Aug 16, 2014, 08:13 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 16, 2014, 08:18 PM (IST)
By Nishad Pai Vaidya
Aug 16, 2014
India had some reason to celebrate in the afternoon session of Day Two of the fifth Test against England at The Oval. India picked up four wickets in the session and brought about some hope of a recovery. However, England are in firm control as they had bowled India out for 148 earlier and have taken their lead close to 100.
England started the session with the scores level; Alastair Cook and Gary Ballance were moving solidly. Cook continued from where he left in the morning session and batted confidently. Ballance went on to get his fifty. Both batsmen had their share of luck courtesy the Indian fielders. Murali Vijay dropped a sitter at first slip of Cook. Ajinkya Rahane failed to latch on to one from Gary Ballance. Varun Aaron and Ravichandran Ashwin, the aggrieved bowlers, were left shattered.
However, Vijay ultimately did hold on to a chance of Cook as he snapped it low at first slip. Aaron celebrated his second scalp of the day. Balance then played one from Ashwin straight down short-leg. And then Ishant Sharma had Ian Bell caught behind with a jaffa.
Moeen Ali was attacked with some short stuff and he did manage to score runs. But, it was quite ironic when Ashwin got his wicket as he inside edged one onto his stumps while trying to leave it.
The statistical highlights of the session were that Cook became the leading run-scorer in Tests for England against India and Ashwin picked up his first overseas wicket since 2012.
Brief scores:
India 148 (MS Dhoni 82, Murali Vijay 18; Chris Jordan 3 for 30, Chris Woakes 3 for 32) trail England 246 for 5 (Alastair Cook 79, Gary Ballance 64, Sam Robson 37; Varun Aaron 2 for 84, Ravichandran Ashwin 2 for 44) 98 runs
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