Shoaib Bashir’s 4-84 has put England in a great position, as India are rattled in Ranchi.
When the tourists began day three on 302-7, they were looking to score as many runs as possible to pile on the pressure back on the hosts.
On the other hand, India were hoping to wrap up England’s first innings as quickly as possible.
Joe Root was unbeaten on 106, while Ollie Robinson was providing great support, with 31.
The Warwickshire seamer took advantage of some loose bowling from India’s new ball bowlers.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe raced to his maiden fifty in 81 balls.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile Root mentioned their 100-partnership with a pull shot behind square. This was beginning to frustrate the hosts, who looked weary in the field.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut Ravindra Jadeja gave them the breakthrough, with the wicket of Robinson, at 347-8.
Embed from Getty ImagesBashir’s miscued slog off the left-arm spinner, found the hands of Rajat Patidar at third man, at 349-9.m
a id=’USY4rx7xSWZGC5kAFskXLw’ class=’gie-single’ href=’http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/2034214760′ target=’_blank’ style=’color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;’>Embed from Getty ImagesAnd Jadeja polished off England’s first innings of 353, with the wicket of James Anderson.
Embed from Getty Images353 looked like a decent score for England, especially when you consider that they were 112–5 at one stage, however it was important that they backed it up in the field.
And Anderson gave them the perfect start, with the wicket of Rohit Sharma at 4-1.
Embed from Getty ImagesYashasvi Jaiswal continued his blistering form with the bat.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe and Shubman Gill made sure that India got to Lunch at 34-1.
Shuman Gill looked solid in the middle.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe put on a 50-run stand with Jaiswal in 92 balls.
Embed from Getty ImagesJaiswal began to dominate the bowling as usual.
While Gill was gaining confidence with every stroke.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut as he was approaching the 40s, Bashir trapped him LBW for 38, at 86-1.
Embed from Getty ImagesPatidar started of his innings confidently.
Embed from Getty ImagesJaiswal brought up yet another fifty in 89 balls.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile Patidar’s confidence grew with every shot.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut again, he failed to capitalize on a good start, as Bashir claimed his second wicket of the innings, by trapping him in front at 112-3.
Embed from Getty ImagesJadeja came out to play some shots.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut strangely, he went back into his shell, and presented a simple catch to Ollie Pope, giving Bashir his third wicket at 130-4.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhen India reached tea on 131-4 England were highly satisfied with their afternoon’s worth of work. India desperately needed a partnership to claw themselves back into the game.
Jaiswal decided to up the ante after tea.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut Bashir was not flustered, as he ended the left -hander’s innings of 73 at 161-5. This was a huge wicket for England, as the left -hander had been tormenting them throughout the Series.
Embed from Getty ImagesDhruv Jurel walked out to bat in a confident mood.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut Tom Hartley got his first wicket of the innings, where Root took a sharp catch at slip, to dismiss Sarfaraz Khan, at 171-6.
Embed from Getty ImagesHartley soon had Ravichandran Ashwin at 177-7.
Embed from Getty ImagesJurel began to counter-attack.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe and Kuldeep Yadav ensured that there were no more wickets lost, as India ended Day Two on 219-7, with a deficit of 134.
Embed from Getty ImagesSo an excellent day for England, where Bashir has bowled beautifully to take four wickets.
The wicket of Jaiswal was a huge moment,, as had he still been there, India may have been in a slightly better position.
Ben Stokes’s bowlers will be hoping to quickly polish off India’s innings, to put themselves in an even stronger position.
Can India eke out some more runs to reduce England’s lead?
Image Credit: Deposit Photos

