India's last-wicket pair frustrates England

[JUGRAJ SINGH]

Prime VIP
Staff member
10bhuvjp-1.jpg


Murali Vijay scored 146 before succumbing to a determined seam attack as India amassed 457 on the second day of the opening Test against England at Trent Bridge on Thursday.


The tourists' huge total was made possible by a last-wicket stand of 111 runs from 38.1 overs between Mohammad Shami (51 not out) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (58), after being reduced to 346 for 9 at one stage.

At stumps, England were 43 for the loss of captain Alastair Cook's wicket.

The hosts trail India by 414 runs, with three full days left in the match.

Sam Robson (20 not out) and Gary Ballance (15 not out) will resume proceedings on Day 3.

The duo added 34 unbeaten runs for the second wicket.

10indiaengland1-1.jpg


Resuming Day 2 on 122, Vijay added just 24 to his overnight total.

He was looking good for his third Test 150 but fell to a marginal lbw decision off James Anderson.

Replays showed the ball was bouncing over the stumps, but with the series being played without the aid of the Decision Review System - India refused to use it - the dismissal could not be challenged.

His exit ended a 126-run fifth-wicket stand on a flat and slow Nottingham pitch where opportunities were few and far between for the hosts' bowlers.

10indiaengland3-1.jpg


Ben Stokes, who toiled without success on the opening day, then picked two quick wickets.

He first had Ravindra Jadeja caught behind and then debutant Stuart Binny (1) caught by Joe Root at point.

In the next over, Stuart Broad cleaned up Ishant Sharma (1).

10indiaengland2-1.jpg


The visitors took lunch with captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on 81 joined by Jadeja (24 not out) as India continued to build a slow but steady first innings in the first of the five-match series.

However, soon after resumption the hosts made a double breakthrough.

Dhoni (82) was run-out off Anderson's direct hit and Jadeja (25) was caught behind of Stokes.

10shami1-1.jpg


The last-wicket pair of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shami, however, produced a stunning rearguard century partnership to rally India from a dramatic middle-order collapse.

Both registered their maiden Test fifties en route to a century partnership, which incidentally is India's second highest stand for the last wicket.
 
Top