Many happy returns by Buttler sees England get upper hand

BIRTHDAY BOY BATTLES ON TO SALVAGE FIRST INNINGS SCOREBOARD

England’s Jos Buttler hooks for six on the second day of Fifth Specsavers Test at The Oval JOS Buttler provided England’s seamers with the fresh impetus they needed on a hard-fought second day of the Fifth Specsavers Test against India at The Oval.

Buttler (89) marked his 28th birthday by top-scoring for the fourth time in England’s last five innings as he and Stuart Broad’s ninth-wicket stand of 98 underpinned a recovery from 198 for seven at start of play to 332 all out.

Then, in an impressive, occasionally bad-tempered but very skillful third spell of 6-2-8-2, James Anderson struck in successive overs to put himself just two wickets short of Glenn McGrath’s world-record 563 for any pace bowler.

As the old ball swung, Ben Stokes got in on the act with two late wickets – including prolific India captain Virat Kohli – in a stumps total of 174 for six.

England had surprisingly dominated the morning – thanks to their driving force Buttler.

He received support from Adil Rashid and then especially Broad as England put themselves back on the front foot in pursuit of a 4-1 series scoreline.

Jasprit Bumrah pinned Rashid lbw, and Broad entered the equation on a still underpar 214 for eight.

England’s number 10 had 10 of a further 20 runs when Bumrah struck him a painful blow to his shoulder.

Far from losing his appetite for the battle, however, Broad’s concentration appeared redoubled.

India were unable to stop England’s charge for 20 overs until Broad tried to hit Ravindra Jadeja (four for 79) over the top and fell to a brilliant catch by KL Rahul – chasing back from mid-on to dive and hold a skier.

There was to be no birthday hundred for Buttler, but he was not done with just yet.

He hit Bumrah for two sixes in three balls – into the crowd over long-on and then a hook towards the dressing-rooms – before he was last out, caught at slip trying to farm more runs off Jadeja.

By then, England’s last three wickets had put on 151 runs, and the onus was on India – all the more so after Broad struck with his first delivery, seam movement accounting for Shikhar Dhawan lbw.

Rahul responded, in company with the much more cautious Cheteshwar Pujara, in a second-wicket stand of 64 which ended when Sam Curran bowled the opener.

The all-rounder had his first Test wicket on his home ground, hinting at his habitual inswing but then getting the ball to leave Rahul off the pitch and take his off-bail.

Kohli survived thanks to a tight umpire’s call on 16 when Anderson thought he had him lbw – only for replays to vindicate Kumar Dharmasena’s onfield judgement of impact outside off-stump, or near enough.

Anderson, whose first two spells had been limited to two and three overs by Joe Root, was not happy.

He made his feelings clear to the umpire, surely risking the attentions of the match referee as Dharmasena subsequently spoke to Root – apparently about his lynchpin seamer’s conduct.

But Anderson’s mood was Ben Stokes of England celebrates with teammates after dismissing India captain Virat Kohli lightened when Pujara edged behind, and then Ajinkya Rahane got a little more bat on the swinging ball and was caught at slip for a duck.

Debutant Hanuma Vihari made a nervy start, twice narrowly surviving Broad lbw appeals on nought, before keeping his captain company in a half-century stand.

But Kohli fell one short of his 50 when he edged a drive at Stokes to his opposite number at second slip, and left-hander Rishabh Pant was then caught at first in near mirror image.

England all-rounder Ali felt England’s first-innings recovery – posting 332 after resuming on 198 for seven – had been hugely significant as the hosts took control of the final Test.

“It was massive,” Ali told Sky Sports. “I think today we played perfectly. We thought yesterday if we could get 250 or 260, a couple of good partnerships... but we exceeded that really well and it was brilliant from Jos, the way he played.”

Ali said England’s bowlers had taken advantage of the conditions later in the day to put India’s batsmen under telling pressure.

“It was a bit like yesterday when we were in a similar position,” Ali added. “We found when the lights came on, especially in the last session of the day, it was nipping round a little bit more.

“I thought we bowled really well. We were really patient and set good fields and we’re in a fantastic position.”