Indian Bowlers floor England - #ENGvIND #Team India

India lead 2-1

Indian bowlers floored England , by relentless, penetrative , disciplined bowling performance on fifth and final day of 4th test , thereby leading series 2-1 , with one to go. With 291 more runs to win in 90 overs, England folded in 60.2 overs with scoring just 133 runs. 

On the fifth morning, India struck in 9th over after around 40 minutes . On Shardul's 4th ball of his first over. After consuming the boundary and 50 to Burn, Shardul got him caught behind with out swinger -100/1 in 40.4 overs. By 1st hour England 110/1 - 32 runs - 1 wicket. Needed 258 more. Hameed got a life as Siraj dropped a sitter at mid on on 55 at 112/1. Jadeja kept constant pressure on left hander Malan. Under pressure got run out on 5 - 120/2 - 54th over. At lunch, hosts were 131/2 - 59 overs.

Post lunch hour it was all Jadeja and Bumrah show. Just after lunch in 62nd over Jadeja clean bowled Hameed on 63. 141/3. Then Bumrah bowled one of the best spells of the series. Bowled first innings top scorer Pope on 2, followed by Bairstow with scorching yorker on very next over. Jadeja Sent back Moeen immediately after, in 68th over. Within 6 overs claiming 4 wickets for 6 runs , Team India turned the match fully in it`s favour -147/6. Joe Root was quite comfortable once he survived Bumrah spell. Shardul struck with the first ball in 81st over , by bowling Root on 36 - 182/7. Then it was mere formality, with 41 overs for the day to go. Just before tea Yadav sent Woakes back. 193/8.Post tea Yadav wrapped up England  innings with last 2 wickets. 

So India bounced back handsomely after getting bowled out for 191 in the first innings. And hope to continue the momentum in the fifth and final test starting on 10th September, as well.

- Vivek Ketkar

Rohit Sharma Man of the Match - 127 runs 

O Shardul - Sach a Vivian display ! #ENGvIND #TeamIndia

 India or England ? 

It was Shardul Thakur again . With terrific straight drives, even Sachin Tendulkar would be proud of. Also lifting bowlers over their head, such awesome clean hitting with a straight bat. Played some exclusive drives. No wonder Shastri was teasing him as the great Vivian Richards after similar display on Australian tour. With second very important half century in the match - 60 off 72 balls, with 7 fours and a six. Formed excellent dominating century  partnership with Rishabh Pant , took Team India to relatively very safe position on the fourth afternoon of the fourth test match, from where they can challenge hosts England.

But having said that - Facing 368 runs target , England openers did very well to play out 32 overs, with 77 not out on fourth day evening, without much of a difficulty. So 291 more with minimum 90 overs at 2.91 per over. On a batsman friendly 5th day Oval wicket, it`s anybody`s game now. 10 wickets for India or England collapse , recovery and draw...even tie. 

On forth day morning after 45 minutes Jadeja departed bit unluckily - LBW. Vice captain, Rahane followed him with no score. Woakes got both. By first hour India was able to add 26 runs and lost 2 wickets. 296/5. Virat 40* joined by Pant. India lead 197. Virat was encashing full pitched deliveries with his trademark cover drives. Both ran extremely well between the wickets. Virat looked all set for a  big innings. But Moeen Ali delivered a big big blow - got Virat 44 caught in slip.312/6. Led 213. By Lunch India reached 329/6. Added 59 for 3 wickets. Lead 230.

Post lunch it was Shardul Thakur and Rishabh Pant  show. Pant started to look aggressive and even more once the lead crossed 250. Shardul continued confidently just like 1st innings, as told earlier above . England team started looking more and more depleted, with every stroke...every run. Root getting extremely worried. Tired English attack was looking listless after more than 125 overs of Indian innings. Pant and Shardul continued to add runs quite aggressively. By drinks, post lunch hour India 375/ 6, added 46., without any loss. 276 ahead - Hosts wicketless. Pant escaped simple run out at 376, adding to England agony. That prompted both to press accelerator. Almost 10 plus runs per over, for next 5 odd overs. After 136 overs Root himself had to come in to attack and immediately removed Shardul on 60 after exact 100 runs partnership off just 155 balls. - 412 /7. 313 Ahead. Moeen struck immediately with caught and bowled Pant on 50, just about to start going in top gear. 414/8. England feel bit relieved after few miserable hours in the field on quite hot sunny day. Excellent session for India - added 116 runs off 2 wickets, at 4.46 runs per over. At fourth day tea - India 346 ahead - 445/8.Even Yadav and Bumrah chipped in with 25 and 24 runs. Ultimately India all down for 466, half an hour post tea. Target for England 368.

So who is going to stand out for India on 5th and final day for India? Jaspreet Bumrah, Umesh Yadav , Ravindra Jadeja with whatever little support from bowler`s rough marks on 5th day pitch , Mohammad Siraj - Brisbane and Lord`s star or even Shardul Thakur with crucial wicket or two ?The day could well decide the fate of the series 1-1 at the moment.

Very exciting and riveting day`s play on the cards.

- Vivek Ketkar

                                    

                        Shardul Thakur effortless - stylishly lifting for a six.

मराठीत  समालोचनासाठी  पहा  : 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVd8iv5kguU

Rohit leads fightback #ENGvIND #TeamIndia

Classy  Rohit's 127 puts India 171 ahead

Indian applied well on third morning, both Rahul and Rohit were looking more and more confident for more than 90 minutes. But that wily old fox Anderson ( 39 ) bowled excellent delivery to get Rahul nick one back. Rahul 46 - India 83/1- still 16 behind. Pujara looking very positive from outset joined Rohit who was looking more and more classy , started to build up a good partnership . At lunch India 108/1.

Post lunch in the first hour both added 45 more and started looking more confident, solid and aggressive. Second hour post lunch was the best hour for Indian batting on the tour, probably. Rohit got to his hundred throwing Moeen Ali in to long on crowd, as India added more and more runs, effortlessly, 46 to be precise in that hour. Rohit Sharma`s first classy overseas century came off 204 balls - 12 fours and 1 six and just a little bit of luck, at start. Both took India 100 ahead by tea -199/1. Rohit 103* / Pujara 48*.

Post tea - In 80 overs India were 236/1 . On Robinson`s very first  ball of second new ball, Rohit almost threw his wicket , sheepishly pulling almost long hop very tentatively. What a timely classic test match knock that was - 127 with 14 fours n six. Got out in a bit bizarre way. But India got big shock immediately as Pujara 61 got out in the same over. Suddenly India 237/3. Lead 138. Promoted Jadeja joined Virat, to face second new ball. India lost 2 wickets in 15 hours scoring 46 runs in first hour after tea. By drinks 254/3 - 87 overs - Lead 155.

At 263/3 - 90 overs - Light deteriorated so Root decided to continue with spin. But just for 2 overs. At 270/3 - 92 overs bad light stopped play with 33 unbeaten partnership. Lead 171.

So that was that …India largely successful on the way to great comeback. From 43/0 to 270/3 . India hope to increase their lead as big as possible on 4th day with 7 wickets in hand. For that again they have to be extra watchful again on 4th morning, on a 12 over old new ball. Hope for another cracking days cricket on cards, with Virat and boys rising to the occasion.

- Vivek Ketkar.

 Rohit Sharma classy 127

                                           Cheteshwar Pujara 61 

                                               Partnership 153

Rohit to Shardul ..Who will EXCEL ?.. #ENGvIND #TeamIndia

India 56 behind  -  Day 2 

India 56 behind , with all second innings wickets intact. Rohit was dropped on 6, but otherwise openers survived the day well with 43 for no loss on a wicket looking very batsman friendly. 

Pope 81, Bairstow 37 , Moeen Ali 35 and Woakes 50 took England to 290 - Lead by 99.

Earlier on 2nd morning India struck twice  through Umesh Yadav in 1st hour removing both overnight batsmen , night watchman and dangerous inform David Malan. 62/5. 25 runs off 13 overs in 1st hour.

Second hour it was all Pope and Bairstow over some ill directed Indian Pacers. Full of aggressive strokes, dealt in boundaries. Got England to 139/5, at lunch. Unbeaten partnership of 77 runs. Trail by 52 runs.

Post lunch Siraj got Bairstow 37 after partnership of 81 -151/6. Pope continued to play well, with Moeen 35, added another valuable 71.

At Tea England 36 ahead - 222/7.

Post Tea India got bit lucky as Pope dragged harmless wide delivery from Shardul on stumps to end his well made 81,putting England ahead.250/8. Jadeja bowled Robinson. 255/9.

Woakes struck  few boundaries ,with his invaluable 50 took England lead to sizable 99 .

Ultimately England were  290 all down. Bumrah was wicketless on day 2,Umesh, Jadeja 2 and Siraj, Shardul 1 each.  

So its all again up to Indian batting stars to utilise this extremely batting friendly pitch , irrespective of weather condition to apply themselves dedicatedly and put a big score. Proper shot selection , patience and determination is the key. India must try and play the whole third day and at least one session of fourth day to put some pressure back on England. Rohit, Rahul, Pujara, Virat, Rahane, Pant, Jadeja and Shardul - all these 8 have the capacity to stand , apply and deliver. So who it will be for India on day 3. Let`s hope for a far better batting display, on this decisive day.

- Vivek Ketkar

India remove Root after England pacers dominante #ENGvIND #TeamIndia

 India batsmen struggle again - Day 1 - 4th Test 

England won the toss and invited India to bat. And after confident half an hour, by Rohit and Rahul, English pacers -  starting with Woakes - rocked India with 39/3 in 20th over. Top 3 sent back. With promoted Jadeja and Virat India  54/3 at lunch.

Surprisingly R Ashwin didn't found a place again, in playing eleven on bit spin friendly history at Oval . Ishant and Shami were replaced by Umesh Yadav and Shardul Thakur. 

Post Lunch Virat was dropped on 22 by Root .Jadeja sent back by Woakes on 10 off 34 balls, at 69/4. Rahane survived close LBW on 1. Meanwhile sun and Virat's cover drives started coming out . India scored 46 in post lunch hour. India got to 100 in 39th over. Virat grown in confidence, finding his usual touch, got to his fifty,  with 8 fours off 85 balls. Was looking set for a much waited big one. But Robinson got him caught behind after keeping him quiet for next 11 balls -105/5. Big big blow to India's chances of building a big first innings total. In 50th over Overton struck to remove Rahane on 14 off 47 balls - 117 /6. England again picked up 3 wickets winning second consecutive session . At Tea India 122/6.

Post Tea Rishabh Pant got foxed by Woakes' slower one on 9 - 127/7 in just 53 overs. Shardul Thakur launched brilliant counter attack, played some exquisite cricketing shots with 3 clean sixes, got to 50 in just 31 balls, top scored 57,off 36 balls which also included 7 fours. Fastest 50 at The Oval, London, oldest test match ground, first one actually. Unexpected so was more enjoyable. Got standing ovation. Root was bit clueless till Woakes got him one mistimed. Added 63 with Umesh Yadav. 190/8. Indian innings folded immediately after, at 191 in 61.3  overs. England very happy with the pacers performance after putting India to bat first.

But Boom Boom Bumrah sent both openers back in his second over 6/2.Ever reliable Joe Root and attacking Malan, took to 50 in 13th over. But Umesh Yadav clean bowled Root on 21 in his 6th over with sharp incoming delivery. Dream wicket for India just before the close. Suddenly match is evenly poised.   England 138 behind with 7 more wickets. Very interesting 2nd day's play on the card.

Can Indian Pacers stun England by making inroads..?

                                                                    Shardul Thakur 

                                

                                          Umesh Yadav bowled Root 

- Vivek Ketkar