While Joe Root’s big knock didn’t happen, he produced a masterclass with the ball as he registered career-best figures of 5/8.
The day-night Test between India and England in Ahmedabad concluded dramatically, producing a result in less than two days. India won by 10 wickets as they chased down a paltry target of 49 after bowling England out for a meager total of 81 on the same day. There were several moments on the second day worth remembering. Here we shall take a look at some of those moments.
Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane’s quick departure
India started Day 2 on 99/3, with Rohit (57) and Rahane (1) at the crease. They added 15 in the morning session, after which Rahane threw away his wicket trying to go for an expansive shot. He tried to cut a ball from Jack Leach that came in after pitching on good length and was thus cleaned all ends up. Rohit followed a couple of overs later, dismissed lbw while trying to sweep Leach. India were reduced to 115/5 and lost their last five wickets within the next 30 runs.
Joe Root’s Bowling Masterclass
Root has been short of runs ever since scoring a double ton in the first innings of the first Test match in Chennai. His fans were looking forward to a big knock. While that didn’t happen, he produced a masterclass in bowling as he registered his career-best figures of 5-8. Rishabh Pant was his first wicket, caught behind. He then picked up both Axar Patel and Washington Sundar in his third over. At that point, his figures read 3-3-0-3. He claimed two more wickets, of R Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah, to register his maiden five-wicket haul in First-Class cricket.
Axar’s double-wicket maiden
England were in the driving seat after they managed to bowl India out for 145. They needed to overhaul a lead of just 33 runs and put up a significant target for the hosts. However, their plans got derailed right in the first over of their innings as Zak Crawley got cleaned up by Axar right off the first delivery. Their condition deteriorated further as Jonny Bairstow followed suit two balls later. Axar didn’t concede any run in the next three deliveries of the over.
Ben Stokes’ dismissal by R Ashwin
Stokes had stitched up a crucial stand of 31 for the fourth wicket with Root. He was trying to take on the bowlers with shots all around the ground and had raced to 25 off just 33 deliveries. However, the partnership was broken as Stokes got a delivery from Ashwin that straightened after pitching and hit Stokes on the pads. The wicket triggered a collapse as England lost their next six wickets for just 31 runs.
Rohit and Shubman Gill finishing things off in style
India needed to chase only 49, but even that could have been tricky, considering how the pitch was behaving. But Gill and Rohit came with an attacking mindset and reached the target in just 7.4 overs. While Rohit remained unbeaten on a run-a-ball 25, Gill finished on 15 off 21 balls.