A poor decision from Umpire Bruce Oxenford marked the end of Murali Vijay who got dismissed after having scored 146 from 361 balls. India went in to lunch with 342/5 on board, with Dhoni on 81 and Jadeja having piled up a quick 18 ball 24.
After MS’ run out what then followed was the great collapse as Jadeja, Dhoni, Binny and Ishant Sharma had walked back to the pavilion in sequence just for four runs.
The game took a thrilling turn as a record breaking 111 run partnership between Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammad Shami restored the Indian innings that had looked dismal after lunch on Day 2. The last wicket stand turned off the hosts as both the tail enders kept the scoreboard ticking, exhibiting a solid defense against the seamers and smashing the lone spinner, Moeen Ali.
They surpassed the 73 run stand between Kumble and Sreesanth at Oval in 2007, and brought up the best ever last wicket stand for India in England. This was also the second-highest last-wicket stand for India, after Sachin Tendulkar and Zaheer Khan’s 133 against Bangladesh in Dhaka in 2007.
Both the “batsmen” brought their maiden test fifties in succession. And a proud MS Dhoni along with the entire team was seen at the balcony applauding the grit his team mates had put up.
The Indian innings was wrapped for 457 and Moeen Ali got his only wicket in the form of Bhuvneshwar Kumar who had skied the cherry to Joe Root.
England had looked bleak and worn out. On the other hand, India looked strengthened and well – equipped, ready to take on the opposition in their backyard.
India will take heart from the fact that they haven’t lost a Test Match after putting up anything more than 400 on the board.
Seventeen overs were left, when Cook and Robson opened the batting for England. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was right on the money from his very first ball.
It seemed to be Shami’s day as he bowled round the legs to Alastair Cook and removed the England’s Captain for a paltry five in the fourth over. The Indian seam duo had found a considerable amount of swing that had skipped the home paceman.
Gary Ballance and Sam Robson saw the day for England and the hosts trailed by 414 runs at stumps on Day 2.
The last delivery of the day that was bowled by Ishant Sharma brought a bit of spectacle, as the ball knocked Ballance’s thigh pad and was caught by Dhoni down the leg. Kumar Dharmasena was unstirred and he gestured the end of day’s play by taking the bails off, unsure about where the deflection had come from.
It was a good day at office for MS Dhoni, the only disappointment being Murali Vijay missing out on what could have been a well deserved 150
England made an impressive comeback straight away after lunch, but Kumar and Shami stitched a record-breaking partnership to ensure a fight back. Things went slow for England after Cook’s dismissal and the last few overs were seen through guardedly. For the latter part of the innings, Shami and Kumar kept hunting for the ideal length to trump the batsmen, but Ishant Sharma was spot on. In the two overs that he bowled, Jadeja made a point of holding the key for India against the left handers.
On day 3 the Indians will have their task cut out to ensure England don’t stage a recovery. The odd ball had kept low, but India’s real optimism is in the reverse swing. Besides, as anticipated, if there’s a downpour, the dampness will revive the wicket, diluting the probability of reverse swing. The pitch looked genial by batting standards but England will have to let the last session slip from their memory and start once again today.
It will be interesting to see which way the game heads on the third day. Will the hosts be able to dig their course back and even-steven the game or are the visitors going to have the last laugh!
