ENG vs IND: 2nd Test, Day 4 – Talking points from a hard-fought day of Test cricket
The fourth day’s play of the second Test between England and India was enthralling again. It was attritional Test cricket and the most scrutinised men, Rahane and Pujara, have kept India alive in the game after being 55/3. However, three quick strikes late in the day has put England ahead with India ending the day at 181/6 with a lead of 154 runs.
Here are the talking points of the day:
Mark Wood’s plan to dismiss Rohit
A Trap by Mark Wood & England in which Rohit Sharma fall.
Short Ball, he pulls his and it was a six, now 3 fielders at the boundary line, again a short ball and he edges hit.
Same story of getting out after getting set continues..
#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/4YFvAxqCNt— CricTwig (@crictwig) August 15, 2021
All the eyes were on Anderson in the morning session. But it was Mark Wood who hogged the limelight. He first dismissed KL Rahul but the way he trapped Rohit with a short-ball ploy was brilliant. And the good thing was he stuck to the plan despite being hit for a six and was rewarded in the same over. Rohit went for the hook shot and the ball got big on him only to be caught in the deep.
Rahane-Pujara stand bails India out of trouble
At 55/3, a collapse would’ve ended the game today itself. But India’s most scrutinised men over the last few months, Rahane and Pujara, saved the day for their team. They played defensively for the major part of the partnership and batted out time before churning out runs a little quickly in the final session. The duo added 100 runs for the fourth wicket with Pujara scoring 45 off 206 balls and Rahane mustering 61 off 146 balls.
India lose three wickets in the final half-hour
Mo way! 😱
Scorecard & Clips: https://t.co/Wh41RMk89g
🏴 #ENGvIND 🇮🇳 | #RedForRuth pic.twitter.com/mDOgMveJGZ
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 15, 2021
All the hard work done by Rahane and Pujara was undone in the last 30-40 minutes of play in the end. Mark Wood was again in the action bowling a length delivery which surprisingly got big on Pujara as he edged it to the slip. Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja were then dismissed in quick succession by Moeen Ali and with only around 154 on the board, India only have four wickets in hand now and will need at least 200 to make a match out of this.
