2nd Test, Day 2: Joe Root holds key with the match hanging in balance

England finished Day 2 of the Lord’s Test against India on Friday, at a scoreline of 119/3. Skipper Joe Root is currently unbeaten on 48 after the visitors were bowled out for 364, following a five-wicket haul by veteran pacer James Anderson. India resumed Day 2 on a score of 276/3, with opener KL Rahul unbeaten on 127 and Ajinkya Rahane on the other end, with just 1 run to his credit. The English bowlers managed to make their mark quite early, accounting for the dismissals of the duo.

James Anderson records 31st five-wicket haul

Ollie Robinson accounted for the key wicket of Rahul, who only added two more runs to his overnight score. The opener tried to drive an outside-off overpitched delivery, but failed to control the shot effectively, with Dom Sibley pulling off a catch at covers. The dismissal on the second ball of the day, was soon followed by James Anderson inducing an edge off Rahane. India were reduced to 282/5 with Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja the two new batsmen at the crease.

Pant scored 37 runs off 58 balls in an attacking innings, which included five boundaries. However, his desire to take risks soon led to his undoing after being deceived by a Mark Wood delivery. Pant tried to play a cut shot following a short of length delivery bowled wide of the off stump, but edged the ball behind the stumps to Jos Buttler.

The same was soon followed by Mohammed Shami hitting the ball straight into the hands of the short mid-wicket fielder for a nought. The hosts enjoyed a productive morning session, having reduced the visitors to 346/7 at lunch. Ravindra Jadeja and Ishant Sharma continued to battle it out as India looked to cross the 400-run mark. Jadeja kept the scoreboard ticking from one end with Ishant holding the other end.

However, India’s tail was exposed once again as they were bowled out for 364. Wood wrapped up the visitors’ innings with the dismissal of Jadeja, who perished for a 120-ball 40. Anderson was however the pick of the bowlers, recording his 31st five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

Mohammed Siraj makes his presence felt

The English second innings witnessed a slow start as Rory Burns and Dom Sibley batted with caution. England reached the Tea break with a scoreline of 23/0. However, Mohammed Siraj struck when it mattered the most accounting for the dismissals of Sibley and Haseeb Hammed on back-to-back deliveries in the first over after the break. Skipper Virat Kohli certainly seemed very confident about Siraj’s process with a constant spell ensured. He was further backed by the team, with the visitors using up two of their reviews off the pacer against Joe Root, but to no avail.

Root and Burns stitched a fine partnership to frustrate the Indian bowlers. The duo put up a half-century stand for the third wicket, with the latter playing some excellent shots. Burns looked set for a ton at one stage. However, Mohammed Shami made his presence felt with the batsman’s dismissal, trapping him on 49.

Root went past Graham Gooch to become England’s second-highest run-scorer in Tests. He further crossed 2,000 Test runs against India. The hosts continue to trail by 245 runs at the end of the day’s play, with Jonny Bairstow (6*), the batsman at the other end.