Chennai:After bowling out India for 337, England, with a healthy lead of 241 runs, were one for one in their second innings at lunch on the fourth day of the first cricket test here
today. Despite enjoying the cushion of a big lead, England did not enforce the follow on, and indeed chose to bat for the second time, on a track, where the ball spun, bounced and drifted,
giving more purchase for the spinners. And India struck immmediately when off spinner R Ashwin, opening the bowling, struck off the very first ball, when left hander Rory Burns defended a delivery, which had turn and bounce, hit the shoulder of the bat and flew to Ajinkya Rahane who took a good diving catch in the slip.
Resuming at 257 for six in 74 overs, the overnight pair of Washington and R Ashwin scored at a brisk pace before Ashwin (31, 91 balls, 3x4, 1x6) fell to left armer Jack Leach.Washington Sundar, who scored his second successive half century in tests, and Ashiwn added 80 runs for the seven wicket in 178 balls.
Once this pair was separated, the Indian tail stood exposed, despite Washington (85 not out, 138 balls,12x4, 2x6) ploughing a lone furrow, hitting a six each of medium pacer James Anderson and part time spinner
Joe Root, besides some beautiful cover drives, cuts and inside out shots.India now trail by 241 runs and England chose to bat again and did not enforce the follow on. After Ashwin departed, Shahbaz Nadeem did not trouble the scorers as he edged Leach to Stokes in the lone slip and Ishant was undone by a short pitch ball by James Anderson.
The innings ended in a spectacular fashion when Ben Stokes grabbed a reflex one handed catch in the slip,diving to his right when Jasprit Bumrah edged Anderson. For England, off spinner Dom Bess claimed four wickets, while speedsters Jofra Archer and James Anderson and left armer Jack Leach claimed two wickets each.
Following is the scoreboard :
England (first innings) : 578.
India (first innings) :
Rohit Sharma c Butler b Jofra Archer 6
Shubman Gill c James Anderson b Jofra Archer 29
Cheteswar Pujara c Burns b Dom Bess 73
Virat Kohli c Pope b Dom Bess 11
Ajinkya Rahane c Root b Dom Bess 1
Rishab Pant c Jack Leach b Dom Bess 91
Washington Sundar (not out) 85
R Ashwin c Butler b Jack Leach 31
Shahbaz Nadeem c Stokes b Jack Leach 0
Ishant Sharma c Pope b James Anderson 4
Jasprit Bumrah c Stokes b James Anderson 0
Extras : (B-4, LB-1, NB-1) 6
Total : 337 all out in 95.5 overs.
Fall of wickets : 1-19, 2-44, 3-71, 4-73, 5-192, 6-225, 7-305, 8-312, 9-323, 10-337.
Bowling :
James Anderson 16.5-5-46-2
Jofra Archer 21-3-75-2
Ben Stokes 6-1-16-0
Jack Leach 24-5-105-2
Dom Bess 26-5-76-4
Joe Root 2-0-14-0
