India staring down the barrel

Top-order flops while chasing a record target

July 30, 2014 04:23 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 05:31 pm IST - Southampton

England's James Anderson celebrates with his captain Alastair Cook after taking the wicket of M.S.Dhoni during the fourth day of the third test match at Southampton on Wednesday. Anderson took five wickets for 53.

England's James Anderson celebrates with his captain Alastair Cook after taking the wicket of M.S.Dhoni during the fourth day of the third test match at Southampton on Wednesday. Anderson took five wickets for 53.

India batted twice on Wednesday. Its first innings crumbled fast and when it strode out again after tea, no amends were made.

The visitors’ ‘generation-next’ batsmen, staring at cricket’s greatest challenge — the second innings chase — couldn’t escape from England’s dominance. With India’s top-four back in the pavilion, the host may well book some champagne for Thursday.

England’s second innings declaration at 205 for four set India a daunting target of 445, to be pursued or left alone across four sessions.

At the fourth’s day’s close, the visitors were in tatters (112 for four) and barring a miracle, Alastair Cook’s men are set to negate India’s 1-0 lead at the Ageas Bowl here.

The hosts’ perfect match got doubly sweet as its fielding and part-time spinners clicked in unison. Stuart Broad’s throw left Murali Vijay stranded by millimetres and Chris Jordan plucked a low, diving catch to his right at slip after Cheteshwar Pujara edged Moeen Ali.

Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli resisted through a 51-run third-wicket partnership. Dhawan, who greeted Broad with a four, dropped anchor until Joe Root drew him forward and found a snick.

Ali, bolstered by a skipper who treated him as a frontline bowler, snapped up Kohli. The Delhi duo perhaps paid the price for lapsing into a shell against spin. India’s revival plans now rest on Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma, who incidentally was dropped by James Anderson on his follow-through.

Lucid stroke-making

The uncertainty witnessed during India’s ‘chase’ was a marked contrast to the lucid stroke-making that England unveiled in its second outing.

Having partially quelled questions about his form, thanks to a 95 in the first hit, Cook enjoyed the context of his team needing to build a target. That extra freedom urged him to show some flair and his unbeaten 70 was the pivot around which others like Joe Root (56) launched their mini assaults.

The England skipper swept Ravindra Jadeja to reach his fifty and kept mumbling ‘push, push’ as he exhorted his various partners at different points, to run harder between the wickets.

The hosts upped the momentum after lunch as 81 runs came off the first 14 overs. Ian Bell, who was bowled around his legs, essayed a cameo that fitted well with England’s gallop.

Cook and Root toyed with four overs of spin when Jadeja and Rohit operated together. The duo plundered 34 runs in that phase.

M.S. Dhoni reverted to pace, but it hardly mattered. Root pulled, Cook glided some towards third-man and the runs flowed.

Root’s dismissal, the consequent declaration and the advancement of tea, left the contest well poised but India’s frailty in the last session means that Cook’s men can look forward to some belated joy in a summer that has so far been awful.

In the morning, resuming at 323 for eight, India was bowled out for 330, lasting a mere 25 deliveries, with James Anderson (five for 53) nailing Dhoni and Mohammed Shami.

Predictably England with a 239-run lead decided against enforcing the follow-on.

Scoreboard

England — 1st innings: 569 for seven decl. in 163.4 overs.

India — 1st innings: Murali Vijay b Broad 35 (95b, 5x4), Shikhar Dhawan c Cook b Anderson 6 (17b, 1x4), Cheteshwar Pujara c Buttler b Broad 24 (52b, 3x4), Virat Kohli c Cook b Anderson 39 (75b, 3x4), Ajinkya Rahane c (sub) S.P. Terry b Ali 54 (113b, 5x4), Rohit Sharma c Broad b Ali 28 (61b, 3x4), M.S. Dhoni c Buttler b Anderson 50 (113b, 5x4, 1x6), Ravindra Jadeja lbw b Anderson 31 (52b, 6x4), Bhuvneshwar Kumar c Ballance b Broad 19 (35b, 4x4), Mohammed Shami c Buttler b Anderson 5 (15b, 1x4), Pankaj Singh (not out) 1 (9b); Extras (b-16, lb-14, w-8): 38; Total (in 106.1 overs): 330.

Fall of wickets: 1-17 (Dhawan), 2-56 (Pujara), 3-88 (Vijay), 4-136 (Kohli), 5-210 (Rohit), 6-217 (Rahane), 7-275 (Jadeja), 8-313 (Bhuvneshwar), 9-329 (Dhoni).

England bowling: James Anderson 26.1-10-53-5, Stuart Broad 25-7-66-3, Chris Jordan 17-4-59-0, Chris Woakes 20-8-60-0, Moeen Ali 18-0-62-2.

England — 2nd innings: Sam Robson c Dhawan b Bhuvneshwar 13 (20b, 2x4), Alastair Cook (not out) 70 (114b, 7x4), Gary Ballance c Pujara b Jadeja 38 (48b, 5x4, 1x6), Ian Bell b Jadeja 23 (21b, 4x4), Joe Root b Jadeja 56 (41b, 9x4); Extras (b-4, w-1): 5; Total (for four wkts. decl. in 40.4 overs at tea): 205.

Fall of wickets: 1-22 (Robson), 2-80 (Ballance), 3-106 (Bell), 4-205 (Root).

India bowling: Bhuvneshwar Kumar 10-0-59-1, Pankaj Singh 10-4-33-0, Mohammed Shami 4-0-24-0, Rohit Sharma 5-0-32-0, Ravindra Jadeja 10.4-1-52-3, Viijay 1-0-1-0.

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