Essex Vs India 2018: Day 2, Lunch - India Post 395 in 1st Innings, Bags Early Wicket

Team India began their only practice match against Essex on a pretty poor note. On the opening day of the three-day affair, India lost Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara for just five runs. It was great bowling by the Essex bowlers. Matt Coles, in particular, troubled the Indian batters. Ajinkya Rahane was also dismissed in quick time as India were reduced to 44 for three.

From there on it was skipper Virat Kohli, who shared a 90 runs partnership with Murali Vijay.

Kohli looked in great touch and raced his way to 68 off 92 deliveries which included 12 fours. Both were dismissed in quick intervals.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik batted quite superbly in the final session along with KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya. Rahul smashed 58 before his dismissal. Karthik struck 14 fours during his unbeaten knock of 82. India went to stumps on 322 for six. Pandya was there at the other end batting on 33.

Karthik failed without adding to his overnight score 

Karthik was dismissed in the very first delivery of the second day. He edged a full-length delivery straight to the wicketkeeper James Foster.

Karun Nair also fell in quick succession. Pandya scored a half-century before his dismissal. As the match was not a first-class encounter and only a practice game, all the batters were allowed to bat till 11^th position.

It was second wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant, who walked out in the middle at the fall of the ninth wicket. The southpaw smashed six fours during his breezy knock of 34 off 26 deliveries.

A 41-run partnership between Ravindra Jadeja and Pant ensured India fell just five runs short of the 400-run mark. 395 was always going to be a good score.

The Indian pacers made an immediate impact. It was Umesh Yadav, who trapped Nick Browne plumb in front to give India their first wicket. He struck a couple of boundaries before his dismissal.

Varun Chopra the other opener was joined by Tom Westley in the middle. Essex eventually went to lunch with the score reading 18 for one in eight overs.

Brief Scores 

India 1st innings 396 all-out in 100.2 overs (Dinesh Karthik 82, Virat Kohli 68, Paul Walter 4/113, Matt Coles 2/31)

Essex 1st innings 18/1 in 8 overs (Nick Browne 11, Umesh Yadav 1/1)