Essex vs India: Twitter Reacts as Practice Game Ends in a Tame Draw

The only practise game between India and Essex as expectedly ended in a tame draw as the two teams decided to shake hands with the last 15 overs of the day still to be played. There were no chances of a result. Hence both teams decided to call the match off with an hour still left. India was batting on 89/2 in their 2^nd innings when the match was declared as a draw. For the 2^nd time in succession, KL Rahul looked in great touch.

Shikhar’s bags king pair 

Shikhar Dhawan had a torrid time yet again. If he was dismissed by an inswinger in the 1^st innings, the southpaw was castled by a peach of an outswinger delivery. He bagged a king pair and was criticized severely by all quarters. Cheteshwar Pujara looked in good touch before his dismissal for 23. The final day of the match started with Essex beginning the day’s play on 237/5. They had batted well on the 2^nd day after losing the 4^th and the 5^th wicket in quick succession.

After his success with the ball, Paul Walter proved his batting skills with a brilliant 75. The innings was studded with 13 fours and a six. Tom Westley and Michael-Kyle Pepper also chipped in with crucial half-centuries. Moreover, he helped Essex post a strong total of 359 in the board. They had lost only 8 wickets when the Essex skipper decided to declare the innings. India needed to bat a bit. Hence the declaration came.

Rahul looked in good touch in both the innings 

The Indian openers needed some match practice. Rahul was elevated up the order. He grabbed his opportunity yet again. However, Shikhar Dhawan failed to make an impression. His run of low scores means that his side in Test XI is in serious doubts. Captain Virat Kohli would be pretty happy with his own form.

He smashed a stroke-filled 68 in the 1^st innings. Rishabh Pant also showed his hard-hitting skills while batting at No 10. He scored a quickfire 34 of 26 deliveries. Dinesh Karthik was the top scorer of India with a classy 82 in the 1^st essay. Murali Vijay, KL Rahul and Kohli also scored half-centuries as India were bowled out for 395. Following the performance, India will be in a great stead. Moreover, they will be impressed with the practice session.

Here are some of the twitter reactions after the conclusion of the practice game.

Hence Shikhar fails hails 

Shikhar Dhawan's twin dismissals, for ducks, in this practice game were to

1. an inside edge off a ball coming back &
2. an outside edge off a ball going away.

Hopefully that's made selectors' job easier.#ESSvIND #ENGvIND

— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) July 27, 2018

I have managed to successfully sync (to the exact second) BBC online radio commentary and the audio-less livestream for #ESSvIND. Just thought I'll share this irrelevant piece of information.

— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) July 27, 2018

Two @BCCI players have enjoyed their time at Chelmsford!

Well played, @imVkohli & @SDhawan25! ???#ESSvIND pic.twitter.com/Uz8W7p2xoh

— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) July 27, 2018

Dhawan bowled for a three ball duck. #ESSvIND

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) July 27, 2018

Bowled 18 overs which included 8 maidens and walks away with a 4⃣ wicket haul at a mean economy rate of 1.94 – @y_umesh looks ready to step up and spearhead ??'s attack in the Tests! #PlayBold #ESSvIND

— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) July 27, 2018

It's started to pour here at Essex.

And, that's Stumps on the three-day warm up game.#TeamIndia 89/2 & 395@EssexCricket 359/8d#ESSvIND

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 27, 2018

DROPPED! Shami deserves a wicket for his spell this morning and he almost had it… around the wicket, good pace, moving away from left-handed Walter, gets the edge but DK puts it down. Looks like he got wrong-footed.

Essex 258/5.#ESSvIND pic.twitter.com/BEQ7A9REFG

— The Field (@thefield_in) July 27, 2018

A fan chose to go with Rohit Sharma as an opener for English Tests 

I will still consider Rohit in place of Dhawan for test in England as opener.
Rahul in place of Pujara
Rest will be same Virat, Rahane, DK.
I am OK with 4 duck and a 200 but not 20 runs in 5 matches with this consistency.#ESSvIND

— Sharique (@Jerseyno93) July 27, 2018

Eventually, the match ends in a draw. 

RESULT: MATCH ABANDONED AS A DRAW. India 89 for 2 in their second innings after scoring 395 in their first. Essex 359 for 8 declared. #ESSvIND
Watch live here: https://t.co/0WMzSvtsrw

— Essex Cricket (@EssexCricket) July 27, 2018