K.L. Rahul scores century in Lord’s to lead India to 276/3 on Day 1 of 2nd Test
KL’s unbeaten 127 gives India a solid start at Lord’s
London, Aug. 12: K.L. Rahul gave England a lesson in how to bat in tough conditions with the opener’s composed unbeaten century leaving India well-placed on 276-3 at stumps on the first day of the second Test at Lord’s on Thursday.
Rahul was initially outshone by Rohit Sharma, who made 83 in their fine stand of 126 — the first century partnership by an overseas opening pair in a Test in England since 2016, when Sri Lanka’s Dimuth Karunaratne and Kaushal Silva also achieved the feat at Lord’s.
But, while patient in defence and showing good judgement in leaving balls outside off stump, Rahul was still 127 not out at the close, having batted out the day.
Together with India captain Virat Kohli, he shared a third wicket stand of 117.
One consolation for England was that the new ball did for star batsman Kohli, out for an increasingly fluent 42 before stumps after edging Ollie Robinson to opposing captain Joe Root at first slip.
Ajinkya Rahane was one not out after India decided against sending in a nightwatchman.
Earlier, Rahul drove Mark Wood through the covers for four to go to 98 before a late cut boundary off the fast bowler — the ninth four of his innings — saw him to a 212-ball hundred that also included a six against recalled spinner Moeen Ali, one of three changes to England’s XI.
His sixth century in 38 Tests, and third against England, followed Rahul’s 84 in last week’s rainmarred drawn series opener in Nottingham.
That match saw the 29year-old Rahul make his
return to Test cricket after a near two-year absence after Mayank Agarwal was hit in the head batting in the Trent Bridge nets.
Once again, Rahul demonstrated resolute skill beneath overcast skies and on a greentinged pitch that appeared to favour England’s four-man pace attack.
It was no surprise when Root, the only England batsman to pass fifty at Trent Bridge with innings of 64 and 109,
decided to field first after winning the toss.
But he would have hoped for more than three wickets in the circumstances, with England great James Anderson removing both Rohit and Cheteshwar Pujara in a return of 2-52 in 20 overs.
There had been fears a thigh problem would mean Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, would be unfit to take his place in an England attack already missing Stuart Broad.