ENG vs IND 2018: Southampton Test 'Very Evenly Balanced', Says Shane Warne
Former Australia spinner Shane Warne feels the ongoing fourth England vs India Test in Southampton is evenly balanced.
The fortunes of the game swung from one side to another throughout. India began the day in fine fashion, taking 2 wickets in quick succession to leave England reeling at 33 for 2.
Alastair Cook, who scored 97 runs in 6 innings of the series prior to the latest knock, ended up edging Jasprit Bumrah at slip for 12.
Moeen Ali, promoted at number three, failed to justify the decision. Despite batting at number three in County cricket and enjoying great success, he struggled during his short stay. Ishant Sharma ended his knock by dismissing him for just 9.
But before the visitors could make further inroads, Jennings and Joe Root steadied the ship. The two mixed caution with aggression to keep the scoreboard ticking and ease off the pressure. The two added 59 runs before Mohammed Shami dismissed Jennings for 36 on the last ball before lunch.
And on the very first ball after the break, Shami castled Jonny Bairstow for a first-ball duck to further strengthen India’s grip on the game.
Root managed to see off the hat-trick ball. However, the England skipper’s fighting knock ended in a disastrous fashion as he was run out again in the series for 48.
But from thereon, England managed to pull things back. Jos Buttler and Stokes revived the innings with a 56-run stand. R Ashwin broke the stand by dismissing Stokes for 30. But India’s chances of wrapping up England’s innings was soon quashed by Buttler. He and Sam Curran went on to take the score past the 200-run mark as the lead swelled. Buttler soon completed his fifty.
India finally heaved a sigh of relief when Ishant dismissed Buttler for 69. By then, the lead had already extended to 206. But Buttler’s dismissal did not bring any respite for India either as Curran continued to score. He finished the day on 37 and shared a stand of 27 runs with Adil Rashid to frustrate the visitors.
At stumps, England were 260 for 8, leading India by 233 runs.
But despite England having a sizeable lead, Shane Warne feels the game is evenly balances. At the same time, he said that anything more than 275 would be tough for India.
The legendary spinner also spared a thought for Ashwin who toiled hard throughout the day and managed just one wicket.
“Test match very evenly balanced in Southampton – anything more than chasing 275 will be difficult for India. My thoughts on Ashwin – he’s fighting the expectations that were on him as the pitch is turning – hence he’s rushing his action along with bowling consistently to fast ! ,” Warne wrote on Twitter.
Test match very evenly balanced in Southampton – anything more than chasing 275 will be difficult for India. My thoughts on Ashwin – he’s fighting the expectations that were on him as the pitch is turning – hence he’s rushing his action along with bowling consistently to fast !
