Chennai: India’s off-spinner R Ashwin spun a web around England batsmen, claiming five wickets as the visitors were bundled out for 134 in their first innings on the second day of the second cricket test here on Sunday.
On a wearing pitch that offers sharp turn and bounce, Ashwin tormented the England batsmen with guile and varying his angle and length and returned with a rich haul of five for 43 in 23.5 overs.
Debutant left arm spinner Axar Patel, who bagged the prize scalp of England captain Joe Root, and pacer Ishant Sharma bagged two wickets each, while Md Siraj got the other wicket.
Only wicket-keeper Ben Foakes, who top scored with an unbeaten 43 (107 balls, 4x4), ploughed a lone furrow and showed some character in handling the spinners, along with Olli Pope (22), which the other batsmen failed to do so.
With a big lead of 195 runs and with three days left, India need bat as long as possible, extend the lead till the pitch deteriorates further as batting last on such a wicket would be very challenging and England need a miracle to see a turnaround.
Following is the scoreboard:
India (first innings): 329
England (first innings):
Rory Burns lbw Ishant Sharma 0
Dom Simbley c Kohli b Ashwin 16
Dan Lawrence c Shubman Gill b Ashwin 9
Joe Root c Ashwin b Axar Patel 6
Ben Stokes b Ashwin 18
Olli Pope c Pant b Mohd Siraj 22
Ben Foakes (not out) 42
Moeen Ali c Rahane b Axar Patel 6
Olly Stone c Rohit b Ashwin 1
Jack Leach c Pant b Ishant Sharma 5
Stuart Broad b Ashwin 0
Extras (b-4, lb-4, nb-1) 9
Total 134 all out in 59.5 overs.
Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-16, 3-23, 4-39, 5-52, 6-87, 7-105, 8-106, 9-131, 10-134.
Bowling:
Ishant Sharma 5-1-22-2
R Ashwin 23.5-4-43-5
Axar Patel 20-3-40-2
Kuldeep Yadav 6-1-16-0
Mohd Siraj 5-4-5-1. (UNI)