Adil Rashid takes us down memory lane; brings back memories of Shane Warne's 'ball of the century'

Rahul was finally dismissed on 149 and the massive 204-run partnership that threatened to take the game away from England was finally broken.

Published - 12 Sept 2018, 13:35 IST | Updated - 12 Sept 2018, 13:35 IST

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He had been toiling hard right through the day with little success but Adil Rashid was persistent. The wicket at The Oval was as good for batting as it’d never been in the series and the Indian duo of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant really enjoying the time out there in the middle. The pacers got little swing, there was hardly any lateral movement and the sun was out. Rashid’s strategy of pitching it in the rough finally paid off when he managed to produce a ripper that took Rahul’s off stump.

The leg-spinner had a rough outside the leg-stump of the right-handers but it was tough for him to reach. He went really wide of the crease and even beyond the segment line to be in a position to pitch it there. Rahul who is naturally a really good player of spin knew the plot and was meeting the ball outside the leg-stump.

He had batted really well and almost all through the day. After a poor run in the series, the Indian opener finally managed to register his first half century. He soon converted it into his maiden Test ton in England and was determined to carry on since the job wasn’t even half done till then.

In the 82nd over Rashid, gave one real rip and it hit the rough, Rahul stayed behind and was just looking to defend it off safely. He had seen the ball and presented his full bat to stop it there. But it turned really sharp and went past his bat as he watched it go all along and crash into the top of his off-stump.

Rahul was finally dismissed on 149 and the massive 204-run partnership that threatened to take the game away from England was broken. This was Rashid’s first wicket and he went on to dismiss the other centurion Rishabh Pant as well to put the game in his team’s pockets.