India gives a firm reply after England's 477 all out
CHENNAI: A stubborn century stand worth 108 runs 41.3 overs between Liam Dawson (66 not out) and Adil Rashid (60) helped England post a solid 477 in 157.2 overs against Indian on the second day of the Fifth Test here at Chepauk on Saturday.
In reply, India were 60 for no loss in 20 overs at stumps.
Murali Vijay injured his shoulder while fielding and thus Parthiv Patel (28 batting)opened with KL Rahul (30 batting). India till lunch had good control over the proceedings and put England on the back foot. But the break seemed to have spoilt the rhythm as runs came by freely.
Full marks to Rashid and Dawson for playing positively.
Rashid after a tentative start was in his element as he picked Ravindra Jadeja and Amit Mishra in particular for special treatment. His exquisite cover drive off Jadeja was
perhaps the shot of the day.
Dawson was compact, getting well within the line of the ball and was never for a moment in trouble. Rashid fell when his intended steer of short ball from Umesh Yadav to backward point, ended as a thick edge to Parthiv Patel behind the stumps.
India conceded 100 runs in 32 overs in the second session and let the momentum go away.
Earlier, in the morning with more sun shine and the weather a lot more clearer, the Chepauk wicket on day 2 of the Test looked like producing a lot of runs. Former England captain who did the pitch analysis believed that the strip look perfect for batting. Sunil Gavaskar who also had a look at the square quipped `Lots of runs'.
But England failed to get a good start as Chennai's favourite son R Ashwin struck a vital blow in the very first over of the day.
Operating from the pavilion end Ashwin, bowling with lot more clarity, giving the ball lot more air, combined with subtle turn, tested the foot work of the visitors.
In one such moment, Ben Stokes (6) went forward to a ball that pitched off the seam and that moved away from the left-hander, failed to read the turn and edged a simple one to Parthiv Patel behind the stumps. Ishant Sharma bowling from the other end was all fire and brimstone. He kept bowling short to the well settled Mooen Ali, setting a hook trap for the left- hander, to induce him to miscue the hook shot. To the rest he bowled a fuller length.
In one such moment, Jos Buttler trapped right in front. Mooen Ali, continued from where he left on Friday. He was watchful, sure of his defence and chose the right ball to attack. His six off R Ashwin in the seventh over of the day where the ball sailed wide over long off showed his class.
But Mooen (146) who had all along carefully managed to the play the short stuff from Ishant Sharma was done in by change of pace, from Umesh Yadav.
Mooen mistimed a flier from Umesh Yadav and the pull shot was taken brilliantly by Ravindra Jadeja at mid-wicket, running to his left. India's ploy of testing Ali's patience with shot-pitched bowing worked.
Liam Dawson (27 batting) who made his debut looked solid. There was no sign of nervousness. Ishant tested the youngster by bowling short and mixing the slower ones, but Dawson handled them deftly. At lunch, England managed to add 68 runs to the overnight score of 284, losing four
wickets in the first session today.