England vs India: 2nd Test, Day 3, Review- Bairstow and Woakes power hosts to a commanding position at Lord's

After the first day’s play was washed out owing to persistent rain, James Anderson’s five-wicket-haul helped England brush aside India for a paltry 107 runs in a mere 35.2 overs. Prior to the start of the third day of the second Test at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground, it was evident that the visiting team would be playing catch-up and needed something herculean to get a foothold in the encounter.

The bowlers ignited hopes, but, some resolute shows by the English middle-order batsmen, especially Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes, took the Indian bowling by the scruff of their necks and steadfastly guided the hosts to a dominating position. At the close of play, the Poms scored 357 runs for the loss of six wickets. Most importantly, they ended the day with a massive lead of 250 runs.

Fast-bowlers run through the English batting

Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings commenced proceedings for the Three Lions and put on 28 runs in pretty quick time. Mohammed Shami drew first blood for India when he trapped Jennings in front. The left-hander resorted to using the Decision Review System (DRS), however, the decision didn’t get reversed. Soon after, pacer Ishant Sharma accounted for the wicket of Cook in the very next over.

Joe Root and debutant Ollie Pope needed to bail their team out, and they put of 45 for the third wicket. Pope looked determined, but unfortunately, he perished to Hardik Pandya after scoring 28 in 38 balls. The batter opted for the review and it again went wrong for England and the team lost both their referrals. Thereafter, Shami pinned Root to end India’s pre-lunch session on a high with the score at 89/4.

Woakes and Bairstow march ahead   

Bairstow and Jos Buttler resumed the session and trod the attacking route. Buttler, after faltering in the opening Test at Edgbaston, hit four boundaries to score 24 runs in 22 deliveries. Nevertheless, he couldn’t carry on and became Shami’s third victim. With a lead of 24 runs and half their batting order back into the pavilion, the Brits found themselves in a tad tricky situation.

Bairstow and Chris Woakes had the responsibility to add to the lead and pile on India’s agony. Both smothered the bowling and didn’t look flustered. By the end of the session, the Poms took a significant lead of 123 runs. Both the batters looked in ominous touch and accomplished their respective half-centuries. England ended the post-lunch session with their score at 230/5 in 55 overs.

More despair for India  

Woakes and Bairstow carried on in their merry way as the bowlers tried their hearts out to curb the scoring rate. The duo eventually cobbled 189 runs together and dashed India’s hopes of making a comeback. Woakes went on to score his maiden Test century. Bairstow also looked good for his sixth century in the longest format, but that wasn’t the case as Pandya removed him for 93 runs.

Dinesh Karthik, who has had a mediocre tour thus far with bat and the wicketkeeping gloves, took an impressive catch diving full-length on to his right. Sam Curran, the wrecker-in-chief in the first Test, played some magnificent strokes to score 22 runs in 24 balls. The atmosphere turned dreary and play had to be called off for the remaining of the day, much to India’s relief.

Brief Scores

India: 107 all out in 35.2 overs; (Ravichandran Ashwin 29, Virat Kohli 23; James Anderson 5/20, Chris Woakes 2/19)

England: 357/6 in 81 overs; (Chris Woakes 120*, Jonny Bairstow 93; Mohammed Shami 3/74, Hardik Pandya 2/66)

England lead by 250 runs  

Close of Play: Day 3

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