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PHOTOS: India outplay England in Vizag

February 05, 2024

'The wicket was good to bat on, a lot of the batters got starts but didn't convert. This win gives us a lot of confidence. Very proud of such a young squad.'

IMAGE: India players celebrate after third umpire confirms the wicket of England's Ben Stokes, run out by Shreyas Iyer, on Day 4 of the 2nd Test at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam, on Monday. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Ravichandran Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah claimed three wickets apiece to bowl India to a 106-run victory in the second Test against England on Monday.

 

Chasing a victory target of 399, England were 95-1 before losing five wickets in the morning session as India set about levelling the series.

IMAGE: England opener Zak Crawley batted well for well-made 73. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Opener Zak Crawley struck 73, with Ben Foakes (36) and Tom Hartley (36) producing defiant knocks down the order, but England were eventually dismissed for 292 in the second session on day four.

"We know winning a Test match in these conditions is not going to be easy, but the bowlers stepped up," said India captain Rohit Sharma.

"The wicket was good to bat on, a lot of the batters got starts but didn't convert. This win gives us a lot of confidence. Very proud of such a young squad."

IMAGE: India's Axar Patel celebrates with teammates after taking the lbw wicket of England's Rehan Ahmed. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Former captain Virat Kohli missed the first two Tests for personal reasons and India were also without batter KL Rahul and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja after they picked up injuries in the series opener in Hyderabad.

Left-arm spinner Axar Patel removed Rehan Ahmed, who did a decent job as England's nightwatchman by scoring a brisk 23 after play resumed on day four.

 

IMAGE: India's Jasprit Bumrah celebrates after taking the wicket of England's Ben Foakes. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

England reached the 100-run mark in 22.1 overs, with a double by Crawley.

Crawley and Pope kept punishing bowlers, hitting Axar for a hat-trick of boundaries. Crawley also reached his half-century in 83 balls, with seven fours and a six.

IMAGE: India's Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates with teammates after taking the wicket of England's Joe Root, caught out by Axar Patel. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Ashwin then rattled England by dismissing Ollie Pope and Joe Root in successive overs.

Pope made 23 before edging to Rohit Sharma's outstretched left hand at slip.

 

IMAGE: England's Joe Root in action. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Root, nursing a finger injury, smashed Patel for a six but gifted his wicket when he danced down the track to hit Ashwin and ended up offering a top-edge to Patel at backward point.

 

IMAGE: England's Jonny Bairstow walks back to the pavilion after losing his wicket, lbw bowled by India's Jasprit Bumrah following an unsuccessful DRS review. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Crawley batted with characteristic aggression, and Jonny Bairstow (26) also looked set before they departed in successive overs before lunch.

 

IMAGE: Ben Stokes hit a single four in his innings of 11 before being run-out. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

England's hopes was effectively snuffed out when Ben Stokes was run out for 11.

IMAGE: England's Tom Hartley is bowled out by India's Jasprit Bumrah. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

Foakes and Hartley refused to throw in the towel, though, prompting Rohit to bring back pace spearhead Bumrah.

Bumrah had Foakes caught and bowled with a slower delivery before Hartley had his stumps rearranged by a Bumrah outswinger.

IMAGE: Jasprit Bumrah was named Player of the Match for his nine-wicket haul. Photograph: Francis Mascarenhas/Reuters

"We had full belief we could chase down 399," Stokes said afterwards.

"The way we applied ourselves and tried to put the India bowling attack under pressure was great."

Bumrah's nine-wicket match haul in a spin-dominated contest earned him the player-of-the-match award.

The third Test in Rajkot begins on February 15.

Source: REUTERS
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