Ravichandran Ashwin claims 2, England trail India by 352 runs at stumps on Day 2 of 2nd Test

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed a couple of crucial wickets, as visitors England continued to trail hosts India by 352 runs, at stumps, on Day 2 of the second of the five-Test series, at the Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Friday. In form top order batsman Joe Root was the highest scorer for England so far, scoring 53 runs, while Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes are currently in charge of the English innings, as they would be making sure on day 3, that England cruse comfortably towards first innings total, set by India, while the Indian spinner are getting enough turn to trouble the English batsmen. LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: India vs England 2nd Test at Visakhapatnam

Earlier, England began the post-tea session at the score of 34 for the loss of a wicket, with opener Haseeb Hameed on nine, and Joe Root on 23. They eventually brought up the 50 runs for England, while it was just a run later, when the opener fell for mere 13 in the form of an unfortunate run out off Jayant Yadav. It was a flat one on the middle stump, as Root played it through mid-wicket and runs the first one hard. Jayant chasesd it well and stopped the ball, as he fired the throw at the striker’s end in one motion. Root went for the second but spots it is not on and sendst Hameed back late. The keeper collected the ball and despite not being in balance he managed to deflect it onto the stumps.

Add Cricket Country as a Preferred Source

At the score of 72, it was Ben Duckett, who fell for mere five to spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who bowled him up. It was floated on to the middle stump, as Duckett played down the wrong line and was more or less beaten all ends up, while the ball went past his outside edge and clattered into the off stump. Meanwhile, Root scored his 24th Test half-century, including six boundaries. LIVE Cricket Updates, India vs England 2nd Test, Day 2 at Visakhapatnam

However, at the score of 79, Root departed for 53 off Ashwin, after he was caught by Umesh Yadav. It was floated again outside off, as Root considered it as a chance to score, while he sprints down the wicket to hit it over covers, mistimes it and lofts it high up in the air, towards Umesh Yadav at deep mid off, who runs to his left and completes the catch happily.

Just a run later, it was Moeen Ali, who fell for a single to Jayant, after being trapped leg-before. Although initially turned down by the umpire, the DRS goes in favour of the hosts. It was a flighted one, onto the middle stump, as Moeen came forward to defend but got hit on the pads. Kohli goes for a quick review, as replays confirmed it’s pad first, while the hawk-eye showed the impact was on the line and the ball was hitting the stumps, leading to the overturn of umpire’s decision.

It was then the pair of Jonny Bairstow and Ben stokes, who batted out until the rest of the day, as England continued to trail by 352 runs, while Ashwin finished the day as India’s top wicket-taker with a couple of scalps. England also went past the 100-run mark, and are currently on 103 for the loss of five wickets.

Brief scores:

India 455 (Cheteshwar Pujara 119, Virat Kohli 167; James Anderson 3 for 62, Moeen Ali 3 for 98) lead England 103 for 5 (Joe Root 53; Ravichandran Ashwin 2 for 20) by 352 runs.

Full Scorecard

(Ayush Gupta is a reporter at CricketCountry. A passionate supporter of Manchester United, he idolises Roger Federer and is also a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) maniac. He can be followed on Twitter @Ayush24x7)