Team India managed to finish on top on Day 2 of the fourth and final Test for the Anthony de Mello Trophy at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday. At stumps, India was leading by 89 runs, while Rishabh Pant's third Test century has dramatically helped the host.
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On Day 1, England had elected to bat first and got skittled for 205. While spinner Axar Patel scalped a four-for, all-rounder Ben Stokes struck 55.
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As India resumed at the overnight score of 241, the pair of Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara seemed to be going good. However, just 16 runs later, the latter was the first victim of the day, as he fell for 17 after being trapped leg-before by spinner Jack Leach.
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Just a run later, skipper Virat Kohli departed for an unfortunate duck after being caught behind by Ben Foakes off Stokes, as he went to fiddle with a short delivery just outside off. As vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane joined Rohit, the pair contributed 39 runs before, at 80, Rahane edged it to Stokes off seamer James Anderson for 27, as the lunch break kicked in right after.
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The post-lunch session saw India resume at 804, with wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant joining Rohit in the middle. As they contributed to a 41-run stand for the fifth wicket, Rohit was trapped leg-before by Stokes for 49.
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Out came all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin and with Pant contributed to 25 runs, before at 146, the former departed for just 13 to Leach, after being caught by Ollie Pope in the short-leg. Nonetheless, Pant continued to bat flawlessly, as along with all-rounder Washington Sundar, he stayed unbeaten at the tea break, while he did survive a close leg-before scare right before.
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At the post-tea session, Pant and Sundar continued their onslaught from 1536. The pair put up a 113-run stand for the seventh wicket, while during this course, Pant brought up his third Test ton, having teased with three 90s in the past few innings.
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However, Pant was dismissed for 101 by Anderson after being caught by Root at mid-wicket. Nonetheless, it was then the pair of Sundar and Axar Patel who joined the party until stumps, while the former, too, brought up his maiden Test half-century.
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As for the English bowlers, five of them have been utilised. Meanwhile, Anderson has been the most effective and economical of all.Brief scores: England 205 (Stokes 55; Patel 468, Ashwin 347) trails India 2947 (Pant 101, Sundar 60*; Anderson 340) by 89 runs.
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