INDIA CRUMBLE AGAINST ENGLAND’S PACE TEST, GO DOWN 20
England bowlers rout much touted batting as hosts take 20 lead
Virat Kohli looked beaten and broken as he limped up the stairs to the Lord’s long room on the way to India’s dressing room on Sunday afternoon. A review had just confirmed the India skipper, braving a painful stiff back, was out caught.
For the World No 1 Test team that had vowed to play aggressive cricket, its credentials in tough overseas conditions lay tattered amid a batting crisis soon after.
England sealed an innings and 159-run win in the second Test at Lord’s on Day 4, in playing time of roughly two days in the rain-hit game, going 2-0 up in the five-Test series. After the 4-0 series loss in 2011 and 3-1 defeat four years ago, it has once again left India facing capitulation. The visitors folded for 107 in 35.2 overs in the first innings, and were once again routed, for 130 in 47 overs. Again Indian batsmen were found out in seaming conditions as Chris Woakes, who made an unbeaten 137 for his maiden century, removed last man Ishant Sharma after James Anderson and Stuart Broad had snapped up four each.
Anderson, who became the first to take 100 wickets at Lord’s, had ridiculous match figures of 9/43. England skipper Joe Root declared the innings at 396/7 halfan-hour into the morning. The 289-run lead was enough to pile on the pressure. Grey skies made life difficult for batsmen without confidence in their technique, and an 80-minute weather break didn’t lead to any change in fortunes.
After the narrow defeat in the Edgbaston Test, India were hoping. But a batting crisis has been triggered by the England pacemen after stopping India for less than 200 in three of their four innings. The Indian skipper is nursing a back problem, which leaves the visitors wondering whether their only form batman will be fit for the third Test starting at Trent Bridge on August 18.
Murali Vijay has fallen to in-coming deliveries in each of his innings in England, after failing in South Africa. Anderson handed him a pair, a sharp, in-coming delivery taking the inside edge. It was Anderson’s 100th wicket at Lord’s. He is the first to achieve the venue distinction. KL Rahul was trapped leg before playing a half-hearted prod. Cheteshwar Pujara lasted 87 deliveries, and with Ajinkya Rahane, who batted ahead of Kohli as he had to spend 37 minutes before coming in, seemed to be coping when Broad, switching to the pavilion end, produced a dream spell.
The master of seam bowling was next to unplayable. He drew a loose drive from Rahane to have him caught at third slip. Pujara was set up as he was pushed back with shorter balls, with forward short leg in place. Then came the one that swung in and straightened to hit off-stump.
Kohli was in pain and needed treatment. This time Broad brought forward shortleg (Ollie Pope) into play by getting the glove. Kohli reviewed more in desperation. Dinesh Karthik went first ball, which left Broad on a hattrick. Ashwin’s late resistance, despite taking blows on the hand, and his 55-run stand with Hardik Pandya 26) only helped delay the inevitable.