ENG vs IND 2018: Jonny Bairstow And Chris Woakes Put England In Driver's Seat
Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes scored fine fifties to put England firmly on top in the second England vs India Test. The duo shared an unbeaten stand of 99 runs as England headed to tea break on 230 for 5. The hosts now lead India by 123 runs.
The second session did not begin on the eventful note on which the first session ended. The bowlers had brought back India in the game by taking four quick wickets. The start to the day was not a promising one for India. Both Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami struggled to find their line and length as they leaked runs.
Alastair Cook looked in good touch in the beginning. However, things changed when Shami changed the angle and sent back Keaton Jennings. Five balls later, Ishant dismissed Cook with a beauty to reduce England to 32 for 2. Shami then dismissed Joe Root while Hardik Pandya sent back Ollie Pope as England headed into lunch on 89 for 4.
However, the session after lunch belonged entirely to England. Jonny Bairstow and Jos Buttler helped England surpass India’s 107-run mark and went on to add 42 runs for the fifth wicket. Shami came to India’s rescue again by dismissing Buttler for 24. The breakthrough, however, did not bring any respite as Bairstow and Chris Woakes batted England to a position of strength.
The duo stitched together the first 50-run stand in the game and took the score past the 200-run mark and the lead over 100. Worryingly for India, both the batsmen scored at a quick pace as the lead kept on swelling. In the meantime, Bairstow reached his fifty off 76 balls by hitting Kuldeep Yadav for a four.
Woakes also reached his fifty with a four off Ishant. The duo went on to share an unbeaten stand of 99 runs before the tea break was taken.
Brief scores:
England 230/5 at tea (Bairstwo 62, Woakes 55; Mohammed Shami 3-67) lead India (107) by 123 runs.
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Jonny Bairstow
