Indian bowlers did well to prevent the hosts from taking a massive first innings lead. At the end of the day, the visitors were 43 for no loss.
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Indian bowlers dominated most of the play on Day 2 of the fourth Test match, but Ollie Pope and Chris Woakes made sure that England had a decent lead on stumps. Starting the day at 53/3, the home side struggled initially to get into rhythm on Friday. English batsmen found it difficult to deal with India’s spirited bowling display. However, a timely knock by Pope and Woakes helped them take a 99-run lead. It was not much, but at one point, the home side were struggling at 62/5. Keeping that in mind, they will happily take the lead. In response, Indian openers – KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma – held their ground for the remainder of the day to put up 43 runs on board for the loss of zero wickets, trailing the visitors by 56 runs.
Earlier, Indian team suffered another batting collapse on Day 1 of the fourth Test match. The visitors were bundled out for a mere 191 runs on Thursday. There were fears that England could yet again amass a massive first innings lead. However, the bowlers did well to pick up early wickets, leaving the hosts at 53/3 during the end of Day 1. Buoyed by the late momentum, Indian bowlers started on the front foot on the second day. It was the pacers, who continued to cause mayhem in the English batting line-up, and it did not take long for India to get the early breakthrough on Day 2.
In the second over of the day, Umesh Yadav got rid of the night watchman Craig Overton (1 run off 12 balls). In came Ollie Pope. It was not long before England lost another wicket. Dawid Malan (31 off 67) was unable to make the most of his good start as Yadav – once again – forced him to edge one to Rohit Sharma, who took a blinder at second slip. England were 62/5 and in big trouble.
New batsman Jonny Bairstow and Pope managed to steady the ship, with a much-needed partnership for the home side. Their impressive partnership was stopped at 91 by Mohammed Siraj. The Indian pacer trapped Bairstow (37 off 77) for a leg before, as the hosts lost their sixth wicket for 151. Next batsman was Moeen Ali. Pope and Ali knitted together another crucial partnership under pressure.
This time it was Ravindra Jadeja, who brought an end to a partnership that was threatening to get out of control. Ali (35 off 71) more or less threw away his wicket, attempting an ambitious slog-sweep, which was taken by Sharma. During the crucial 71-run partnership for the seventh wicket, Pope had reached his fifty.
New batsman Chris Woakes took the matter into his own hands, scoring quickfire runs. However, England were dealt a huge blow when Shardul Thakur clean bowled Ollie Pope (81 off 159) and the home side were reduced to 250/8. Not in a mood to slow down, Woakes maintained the momentum, reaching a well-paced fifty. However, when Woakes (50 off 60 balls) was dismissed for a run-out, England were all out for 290 runs.
Batting in their second innings, Indian openers, KL Rahul (22 off 41) and Rohit Sharma (20 off 56), made sure that the visitors did not lose a single wicket at the end of the day. India still trail England by 56 runs. But the visitors are in a much better situation at this Test compared to the scenario they found themselves in the previous match. With three days still left in the Test, India will need to give the home side a massive target to have a chance at winning the match.
