Indian lower-order batsman Shardul Thakur put up an entertaining show at The Oval but his innings was cut short by Chris Woakes. Thakur looked in full flow, clobbering the English bowlers before he was dismissed for 57.
A similar top-order failure after putting into bat meant India were once again facing a below-par total. Despite lengthening the batting order, the visitors were down at 127/7 when Thakur was joined by Umesh Yadav.
They stitched a 63-run partnership, of which Thakur did the bulk of the scoring. He looked unstoppable, smacking England’s best bowler on the day, Woakes, for a couple of sixes. However, Woakes had the final laugh.
After a cracking shot, Thakur missed a rather straighter delivery which hit him flush on the pads. Although the umpire ruled it not-out, England reviewed the decision which confirmed that the ball would have crashed into the middle and leg stump.
Watch Shardul Thakur’s wicket here:
Woakes traps Shardul in front of the stumps to end the fun and Bumrah is run-out next ball. Yadav nicks one to Bairstow soon after.
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Despite Thakur’s late blitzkrieg, India only managed to put up 191 on the board. The moment he fell, the tail-enders were blown away. Nevertheless, the 29-year-old Thakur looked the best out of the Indian batsmen during his 36-ball 57.
It was studded with seven fours and three sixes, which gave the Indian fans something to cheer on another gloomy day. If it wasn’t for his outlandish stroke play late in the innings, India would have been bundled out under 150.
Woakes and Ollie Robinson did most of the damage and exposed the batting once again, picking up seven wickets between them. Apart from that, Craig Overton and James Anderson looked off-color, but the other two stepped up and finished the job.
The CSK all-rounder’s innings shouldn’t mask the fact that the Indian batting has looked increasingly fragile. Especially in overseas Tests, where the lack of application and patience has cost them their wickets.
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