4th Test, Oval Test: Rahul, Rohit in solid start after England take 99-run lead on Day 2
Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul gave India a solid start after 50-year-old Chris Woakes helped England score a significant lead in 99 first innings to leave the Oval Test in balance at the end of play on Day 2 of the fourth test.
India were 43 for no loss at stumps on the second day after England posted a total of 290 in the first innings riding on Ollie Pope’s 81 and Chris Woakes’ quickfire 50 in the fourth Test.
India, who trailed by 99 at the end of the English first innings, are now 56 runs behind going into the third day of the Test match. KL Rahul is batting on 22 while Rohit Sharma is unbeaten on 20. Rohit was handed a lifeline on 6 when Rory Burns failed to judge a regulation catch at second slip.
Considering the batting-friendly conditions at The Oval, the batsmen, especially the struggling middle-order, will be expected to deliver and keep India in the game on Saturday.
Woakes, Pope propel England to 290
Comeback man Woakes starred with the ball when England bowled out India for a below-par 191 in their first innings at the Oval on Thursday. The all-rounder came up with an eqally important contribution with the bat on day two, scoring a counter-attacking 50 to give England an edge in the see-saw contest.
Pope top-scored for the hosts with a patient 81 as England posted 290 in their reply to India’s first innings total 191.
At one point of time, England were tottering at 62 for 5 but then Pope forged a solid 89-run stand for the sixth wicket with Jonny Bairstow and a 71-run stand with Moeen Ali for the seventh wicket to help the hosts take the first-innings lead on Day 2.
Pope played some exquisite shots during his 81-run knock. The drive on the up, the flick and pull shots were treats to the eyes. England were boundled out after Tea with Woakes getting run out after an entertaining knock comprising 11 fours.
For India, Umesh Yadav finished with 3 for 76 while Jasprit Bumrah took 2 for 67. Ravindra Jadeja also got a couple of wickets while Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj finished with a wicket apiece.
The five-Test series is level at 1-1.
