Report, Day 4: Chasing 405 runs for victory, England were reduced to 87/2 in their second innings as India struck late during the fourth day’s play in the second cricket Test match in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. Openers Haseeb Hameed (25) and skipper Alastair Cook (54) were the batsman to be dismissed close to the end of play. Cook’s dismissal ended the day’s action. Joe Root was unbeaten on 5 at stumps at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium. [caption id=“attachment_3116172” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Virat Kohli and Alastair Cook. AP[/caption] India’s Ravichandran Ashwin claimed Hameed’s wicket (1/28) while Ravindra Jadeja (1/25) accounted for Cook. England now need 318 runs to win the match to take the lead in the five-match Test series while India need eight wickets to clinch the encounter. The loss of Cook, in the day’s final over after scoring a dogged 54, was a huge blow for England. Faced with the task of a record-setting run chase for a touring team in India, England began well as the openers shared a 75-run stand in 50 overs, proving their determination and resilience. But once Hameed was out, adjudged leg before wicket (LBW) to Ashwin, England stumbled. It became worse for the tourists when Cook was given leg before to Jadeja with four balls of the day remaining to be played. The England openers earlier efforts were undone by the two late blows, that hit their bid to save the Test significantly. A win for England appeared very unlikely, particularly after the late strikes, and they can now only aim to play for a draw on the final day. England could have gone into the pavilion feeling confident if they hadn’t lost Hameed and Cook. England started well after dismissing India in their second innings for 204. They were 40 for no loss at tea, with Cook (28 not out) and Hameed (12 not out), with each of them having played 84 deliveries. All the Indian bowlers had to toil hard. Cook and Hameed stood strong and showed their hunger to grind it out. England earlier bowled India out for 204 in the hosts’ second innings, claiming the last seven wickets for 87 runs – yet they were set a stiff target of 405 runs for victory. Resuming the day at 98/3, India’s Ajinkya Rahane (26) and skipper Virat Kohli (81) started the proceedings on a good note. They forged a crucial 77-run partnership for the fourth wicket before Rahane was sent back to the pavilion by pacer Stuart Broad in the 39th over. India suffered a collapse after Rahane’s departure, going from 117/4 to 162/9. Ashwin (7), wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha (2), Kohli and Jadeja (2) got out in quick succession. England’s inspired second innings bowling gave them a sniffing chance of getting back into the match. But Jayant Yadav (27 not out) and Mohammad Shami (19) added 42 vital runs for the 10th wicket to stretch India’s overall lead. India’s batting collapse had increased England’s hopes of making a match out of the contest but the Jadav-Shami partnership dampened their ambitions. England’s hopes took a further beating at the fag end of the day’s action when they lost the two wickets, staring at the prospect of going 0-1 down in the five-match series. They need to bat out of their skins to avoid defeat, and their hopes would be pinned on Root – their in-form batsman who scored a fine half century in the first innings. The focus will be on how the fifth day pitch behaves. The wicket has so far behaved decently. But signs of wear and tear on it affecting the bounce of deliveries became apparent when Hameed was pinned on the backfoot to be dismissed. Cook also went on the backfoot and was similarly dismissed.
India vs England, 2nd Test, Day 5, Highlights: Hosts win by 246 runs; take 1-0 lead
Catch all the Live updates from Day 5 of the 2nd Test between India and England at Visakhapatnam.
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Kohli: It (Vizag) has been a lucky ground for me. I get a good feeling whenever I come here, much like (I do in) Adelaide. Pretty happy with the performance. We had to bat deep and long and get 450-plus. Scoreboard pressure really counts in Tests. We had to be positive.
The (performances of) the fast bowlers and Jayant Yadav were the biggest postives. Jayant knows what he is doing. We have been playing really good cricket. We don’t want to get too complacent nor too desperate. We need to strike the right balance.
Cook: It was not a great moment (getting out at the stroke of stumps on Day 4). (The loss) is obviously disappointing. The first day was the easiest to bat on. It was a good toss to win (for India). Virat played really well. You know the third and fourth innings would be tough. We showed a lot of character. We played some good cricket at stages in the first two games. We lost the match but can hold our heads up high.
Jayant Yadav: Great to be bowling in tandem with Ashwin. I was nervous on the first day. I looked to be consistent and vary my pace.
Ravichandran Ashwin: I started slowly in Rajkot. It was a tricky pitch to bowl on (at Vizag). You needed to change your pace. It was important to keep the batsman in the uncomfortable zone. I enjoyed batting more than anybody else. I had done the hard yards. I communicated with Jayant well.
Bairstow keeps the fight going at one end, getting a boundary every now and then including one that brings up the 150 for England. Broad sweeps one towards fine-leg in a show of defience, before getting trapped leg-before in the very next delivery by Jayant Yadav’s bowling. The hosts are just one wicket away from registering a memorable victory here.
OUT! Jayant brings up the magical moment in the very next ball, trapping Anderson lbw to give the latter a king pair. Umpire Dharmasena initially rules it not out, but DRS overturns it.
India win by 246 runs, and gain a 1-0 series lead!
Stuart Broad lbw Jayant Yadav 5(7); James Anderson lbw Jayant Yadav 0(1)
BOWLED EM! Ravichandran Ashwin strikes right after lunch! Fires in a quicker one outside off that turned in sharply and stayed low and beats Ansari’s backfoot defence. India need just two more wickets to go 1-0 up in the series now! ENG 143/8
Zafar Ansari b Ravichandran Ashwin 0(11);
India are 3 wickets away from a win and England have suffered a collapse. Our cricket expert Ayaz Memon reviews the first session of the Day 5.
After 91 overs,England 129/7 ( Jonny Bairstow (W) 10 , Zafar Ansari 0)
What a first session it has been for India. To the contrary, it has not been all Ashwin. All the bowlers have bowled well and have took a wicket. However Bairstow is fighting his way out aggresively with boundaries, but for how long can he do that? Wickets tumbling on the other end, Rashid departs for 4.
After 86 overs,England 115/5 ( Joe Root 25 , Jonny Bairstow (W) 0)
So, India opt for the new ball and continue with spin from both ends. The delaying tactics have begun, Root backs out as Jadeja started his run-up. Finally a bowling change, Jayant Yadav comes back into the attack and Kohli introduces pace from the other end. Shami replaces Ashwin. And the bowling change works, a beauty of a ball by Jayant to dismiss Stokes.
Oh, yes! Ashwin and Jadeja are bowling that fast,
At current rate, we COULD have over 110 overs today.
— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) November 21, 2016
After 76 overs,England 105/4 ( Joe Root 21 , Ben Stokes 0)
India have persisted with spin and the results are visible. Jadeja bowls it in the rough, Moeen prods forward to defend and edges it to Kohli at third slip. Ben Stokes comes out to bat at the centre. However, Root still has a positive approach, punishing the bad balls. Plays a cover drive off Ashwin for a boundary.
OUT! Jadeja bowls in the rough, a thick edge loops to Kohli at leg slip. Moeen departs for 2. India have got a perfect start to the day’s play. Moeen c Kohli b Jadeja 2(31)
Impressive, eh?
Jadeja's economy rate in the 4th innings since 2013 - 1.54. Has bowled more than 200 overs. #INDvENG
— Nikhil Mane 🏏🇦🇺 (@nikhiltait) November 21, 2016
India rattling through their overs. England delaying tactics imminent.
— John Etheridge (@JohnSunCricket) November 21, 2016
After 71 overs,England 100/3 ( Joe Root 16 , Moeen Ali 2)
Huge shouts at Vizag! India don’t have a review and are appealing excessively. Root survives a close call, but he’s not succumbing to pressure. A couple of balls later, strides forward and drives Ashwin through covers for a boundary. A huge appeal for LBW, umpire turns it down, but it looked very close. Moeen leaned forward to defend it, but the ball hits on the pad right in front of the stumps. But the onfield decision would’ve stayed even if India had a review due to umpire’s call. England reaches the 100-run mark.
After 66 overs,England 93/3 ( Joe Root 11 , Moeen Ali 0)
Yikes, spin from both ends and at this rate India will definitely the Day’s quota of 90 overs. Usual routine from India, Jadeja’s role is to keep the runs and he has not leaked any in his first ten balls. On Sunday we saw a defensive approach from Cook and Hameed, but I reckon Root will put away the bad balls. Ashwin bowls it short and Root pulls it to deep mid wicket for a four! Opportunity missed? Yes! Kohli drops Root off Ashwin at leg slip. Ashwin gets rid of Duckett for a duck in the next over.
Surprising move?
Moeen Ali is the new batsman at the crease after Duckett's dismissal
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) November 21, 2016
Live: https://t.co/00LtRbXH1W #INDvENG
OUT! Ashwin removes Duckett again. He goes for the sweep but gloves it Saha. Early breakthrough for India. Duckett’s poor run of form and struggle against spin continues. Duckett c W Saha b Ashwin 0(16)
It was tough, but will down as a chance.
DROPPED! Kohli puts down a chance of Root off Ashwin at leg slip.https://t.co/00LtRbXH1W #INDvENG
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) November 21, 2016
Can England salvage a draw or the Indian spinners will have their way on a deteriorating pitch in Vizag? Watch all our cricket expert Ayaz Memon preview the Day 5 of the second Test.
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