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PHOTOS: Buttler, Anderson lead England fightback on Day 2

September 08, 2018

Images from Day 2 of the fifth and final Test between England and India at The Oval in London on Saturday.

IMAGE: England's players celebrate the wicket of Virat Kohli, who was dismissed by Ben Stokes. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

James Anderson and Ben Stokes struck key blows as England left India struggling on 174-6 on Saturday after the second day of the fifth and final Test at The Oval.

 

Earlier, Jos Buttler struck a brilliant half-century to keep England in the game.

IMAGE: James Anderson celebrates the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Anderson started the decline after tea, grabbing the wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara, the hero of India's first innings in the fourth Test, and then following that up with the wicket of vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane in the space of two runs to reduce India to 103-4.

India's captain Virat Kohli top scored for the visitors, making 49 before all-rounder Stokes induced an edge to second slip.

IMAGE: Jos Buttler, right, celebrates scoring his half-century with Stuart Broad. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

The home side have already built up an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series after victory in Southampton last week.

Earlier, Buttler scored 89 to propel England to 332 all out after the hosts had been reduced to 198-7 at the end of the first day. He got good support from the lower order, particularly Stuart Broad, who scored 38 during a 98-run partnership for the ninth wicket.

IMAGE: England's players celebrate the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

For India, opener Shikhar Dhawan departed early, barely troubling the scorers and caught plumb in front of the wicket with a delivery from fast bowler Broad that seamed right back in with the scoreboard at only six.

That brought in Cheteshwar Pujara, the hero of India's first innings in the fourth Test, who steadied the ship with KL Rahul.

IMAGE: Jos Buttler hit a half-century on Day 2. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Of the two, Rahul looked the more confident, playing some lovely cuts against the fast bowling of James Anderson.

Jasprit Bumrah made the early breakthrough for India in the morning by trapping Adil Rashid lbw for 15 runs by getting the ball to skid through his defences. A review showed it would have gone on to clip leg stump.

IMAGE: Jos Buttler, right, celebrates scoring his half-century with Stuart Broad. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

Rashid's dismissal brought Broad to the crease. He played and missed numerous times, with Mohammed Shami and Bumrah getting the ball to swing in chilly and slightly overcast conditions.

At the other end, Buttler grew in confidence and kept the scoreboard ticking along at a healthy clip to lead the fightback, as he has done numerous times in the series with the tailenders.

IMAGE: Ravindra Jadeja, right, with Virat Kohli after taking the wicket of Jos Buttler. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

But a brilliant catch by Rahul, who caught a blinder after Broad mis-hit a ball over mid-on, brought an end to England's biggest partnership for the first innings.

Buttler struck some lovely shots on either side of the wicket to pepper his knock with six boundaries and two sixes and was the last man out for the hosts, eleven short of his century.

On Friday, England’s Alastair Cook, who is playing in his final Test, hit 71 but fell short of a dream farewell century as India's bowlers roared back to leave the hosts reeling in the final session.

Source: REUTERS
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