On Sunday, India produced a satisfactory all-round performance on Day 2 of the second Test for the Anthony de Mello Trophy at the MA Chidambaram (Chepauk) Stadium in Chennai. At stumps, the host has extended its lead near 250, while Shubman Gill is the only wicket to fall so far.
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On Day 1, Indian skipper Virat Kohli had won the toss and elected to bat first, as senior opener Rohit Sharma played a brilliant innings of 161. Meanwhile, vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane scored 67.
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Resuming at the overnight score of 3006, Pant and Axar Patel's pair looked to steer as far as they could. Nonetheless, just a run later, it was the latter who departed for mere five after being stumped off-spinner Moeen Ali.
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Kuldeep Yadav came out and tried to support Pant, while the latter played some big shots and brought up his sixth Test half-century. Nonetheless, at the score of 325, the former departed for an unfortunate duck off pacer Olly Stone, after being caught by wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, followed by Mohammed Siraj, just four runs later, as he fell for mere four to the same man, in a similar fashion.
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As for the English bowlers, five were used, while they came up with a combined effort, with Moeen being the most effective. Meanwhile, spinner Joe Root was the most economical of all.
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As England came out to bat, it was off to a wobbly start, losing opener Rory Burns for an unfortunate duck off pacer Ishant Sharma off the third ball in the opening over, who trapped him leg-before, with no score on the board. 16 runs later, fellow opener Dominic Sibley, too, departed for 16, as Ashwin made him caught by Kohli at short fine-leg.
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As skipper Root walked out, England hoped for some relief, only for that to be dented by debutant spinner Axar Patel, who prompted the former to go for a sweep, while the ball popped in the air to be taken by Ashwin at fine-leg. With Root gone for six at the score of 23, 16 runs later, Daniel Lawrence departed for just nine to Ashwin, after being caught at the short-leg by Shubman Gill in the final ball before lunch, while Ben Stokes stayed unbeaten.
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The post-lunch session saw Ollie Pope joining Stokes, at the score of 394. However, just 13 runs later, the latter was cleaned up by Ashwin for 18.
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While Foakes joined Pope, the pair contributed to a marginal 35-run stand for the sixth wicket. However, at 87, pacer Mohammed Siraj made the latter caught behind by Pant, off his first delivery of the game.
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As Moeen Walked in, 18 runs later, he fell for mere six to Axar, after being caught brilliantly by Rahane at the first slip. Meanwhile, just a run later, Olly Stone handed Rohit Sharma an easy catch off Ashwin, at mid-wicket, for a single, as the tea break kicked in.
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At the post-lunch session, Leach came out to join Foakes, but departed for just five at the score of 131, after being brilliantly caught behind by Pant off Ishant. The final wicket fell in the form of Stuart Broad, knocked over by Ashwin for an unfortunate duck, just three runs later, as England slumped 195 runs behind.
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The Indians utilised five bowlers. Meanwhile, Ashwin was the most effective, claiming a fifer, while Siraj was the most economical.
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As India came out to bat, openers Rohit Sharma and Gill were off to a steady stary. With 42 runs on board, the latter fell for mere 14 to Leach, after being trapped leg-before.
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Since then, it was the pair of Rohit and Cheteshwar Pujara, who has been in control of the innings until the end of day's play. While a couple of close calls went India's way, it extended its lead a run short to 250.
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As for England, it has used three bowlers so far. Leach is the only one to affect a dismissal in the second innings, besides having the best economy so far.Brief scores: India 329 & 541 (Rohit 25*; Leach 119) leads England 134 (Foakes 42*; Ashwin 543) by 249 runs.
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