Ajinkya Rahane, Sanjay Manjrekar
Ajinkya Rahane [Image-BCCI]

Team India were dealt with yet another body blow at the stroke of Lunch when the human incarnation of a machine- James Anderson– once again got the better of Indian vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane.

Rahane, who had come to the crease after India had lost back-to-back wickets in the form of Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Virat Kohli, played a positive brand of cricket during his brief stay.

The Indian vice-captain stroked four boundaries during his 45-ball 27 but as has been the theme with Ajinkya Rahane’s batting in the past few years, he once again flattered to deceive and fell to James Anderson at the stroke of the Lunch break.

It all happened on the fifth delivery of the 37th over when James Anderson set-up Rahane with a series of inswingers followed by an outswinger. Anderson dished our another outswinger on the penultimate delivery of the over and Rahane couldn’t resist the urge of poking at a length delivery outside the off-stump.

Ajinkya Rahane, James Anderson, Test, Test Cricket
James Anderson is the highest wicket takers among fast bowlers in test cricket. (Photo: SLC)

Ben Stokes, who had been brilliant with the ball throughout the morning session, did the rest as he took an outstanding catch to give James Anderson his second scalp of the innings and also his 900th international wicket.

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The wicket of Ajinkya Rahane came at the worst possible time for Team India as all the hard work they had done in the last hour of the morning session was undone, leaving Rohit Sharma and batsmen to follow after the Lunch break to start from scratch.

England, on the other hand, was absolutely outstanding in the first session as they gave away a mere 56 runs in 25.5 overs and claimed three prized scalps in the form of Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, and Ajinkya Rahane, leaving India struggling at 4/80 in response to their first innings total of 205.

Also Read: Watch: Ben Stokes Dismisses Virat Kohli For His 2nd Duck Of The Series

Watch the dismissal here: