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PHOTOS: Dominant England thrash India at Lord's

August 12, 2018

IMAGE: England's players celebrate the wicket of Virat Kohli. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

England hammered India by an innings and 159 runs in the second Test at Lord's on Day 4 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series, on Sunday.

India's batting flopped once again as they were shot out for a lowly 130 in 47 overs in their second innings.

Virat Kohli's team had scored just 107 in the first innings before England declared theirs on 396 for seven earlier on Sunday to take a huge 289-run lead.

Ravichandran Ashwin finished unbeaten on 33 and was again the highest run-scorer for India in the second innings, as the top order failed miserably for the second time in helpful conditions.

It was the England pacers who did the damage with the ball, Stuart Broad and James Anderson picking up four wickets each.

Chris Woakes, who hit an unbeaten century, claimed two wickets as England came up with a dominating performance to rout the world No. 1 Test team.

IMAGE: Cheteshwar Pujara is bowled by Stuart Broad. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Earlier, India were staring at an innings defeat in the second Test against England after another batting failure left them struggling at 66 for six as early tea was taken due to rain on Day 4.

 

The struggling Indians need 223 runs to avoid an innings defeat at that point.

Pacer Stuart Broad took 4-16 as he destroyed the Indian middle order in the post-lunch session.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane had started watchfully after the lunch break and they looked to eat up as many deliveries as possible.

But Rahane could not survive for long as he edged a wide delivery from Broad and was caught in the slips for 13.

IMAGE: India captain Virat Kohli walks back after his dismissal. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Captain Virat Kohli (17), struggling with a stiff back, came out to bat at No. 5. He was clearly restricted in his movement and stroke making, and received on-field attention before being dismissed.

Broad produced a cracking delivery to break through Pujara's defences as the inswingers beat the bat and deflected off the pads onto the stumps to send back the right-hander for 17.

Broad then struck twice to leave India in further mess.

First, Kohli was caught at forward short leg, after the decision was reviewed by the Indian captain. Broad then dismissed Dinesh Karthik for a duck off the very next ball as the Indian batting line-up collapsed yet again.

IMAGE: James Anderson celebrates after dismissing Murali Vijay. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Earlier, India's openers perished cheaply to leave the team struggling on 17 for two in their second innings before lunch was taken early due to rain.

Captain Virat Kohli had to drop down the order after he didn't take the field in the morning session because of a stiff back.

This was after England declared their first innings at 396 for seven in 88.1 overs, taking a sizeable 289-run first innings lead. India were bowled out for 107 runs in their first innings.

Resuming on their overnight 357 for six, England scored runs at a brisk pace with Chris Woakes and Sam Curran playing positively.

IMAGE: James Anderson celebrates the wicket of KL Rahul. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Chris Woakes finished unbeaten on a splendid 137 not out, his maiden century in Test cricket. He put on 76 runs for the seventh wicket with Sam Curran, who stroked a fluent 40, before his wicket to Hardik Pandya resulted in England's declaration.

India then got off to another poor start with the bat, with James Anderson, who took five wickets in the first innings, claiming both the openers early.

Murali Vijay was caught behind off an inside edge for a duck to become Anderson's 100th Test wicket at Lord's.

Vijay also became the sixth Indian batsman to score a pair (duck in both innings) in a Test, and he has now managed only 128 runs in 10 overseas innings against South Africa and England in 2018.

IMAGE: Chris Woakes acknowledges the crowd after England declared their first innings. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Meanwhile, four overs later, Anderson trapped KL Rahul (10) leg before wicket as the batsman walked off without even checking for the review.

Skipper Virat Kohli didn't come out to bat at number four because he didn't take the field this morning owing to back stiffness.

Pujara and Rahane struggled against movement generated by both Anderson and Chris Woakes but somehow managed to survive.

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