Pujara stands tall as Kohli departs

Southampton (England), Aug. 31: England’s Sam Curran again proved his worth with the ball after starring with the bat by taking the prize wicket of India captain Virat Kohli on the second day of the fourth Test at Southampton on Friday.

At tea, India were 181/5, 65 behind England’s firstinnings 246.

Cheteshwar Pujara, hit on the helmet by a Ben Stokes bouncer, was 70 not out, with Rishabh Pant out for a duck off the last ball of the session after Curran had dismissed star batsman Kohli for 46.

England’s total owed much to the recalled Curran’s Test-best 78, made after he had come in with the hosts in dire straits at 86/6 after India’s pacemen had inflicted yet another top-order collapse.

James Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, needed six more wickets to equal retired Australia great Glenn McGrath’s mark of 563 — the most taken by any fast bowler at this level.

But it was his longtime new-ball partner Sturt Broad who made the breakthrough to have K.L. Rahul lbw for 19.

Kohli’s duels with Anderson have been a feature of the series and the India star frustrated the England great with a textbook cover-drive for four.

But after lunch, 20-yearold Surrey rising star Curran took the wicket England so badly wanted when the left-arm swing bowler angled a delivery across Kohli who, in a rare error, pushed out away from his body and saw the ensuing edge well caught low at first slip by Alastair Cook. Kohli faced 71 balls, including six fours, and put on 92 with Pujara to leave India 142/3. — AFP