IND vs ENG – Test 3, Day 2: Pacers hand India an 168-run advantage over England

Nottingham – A splendid post-lunch bowling effort from India’s seamers left England on the ropes on Sunday, the second day of the third Test. Hardik Pandya claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket while Ishant Sharma grabbed two as England collapsed to 161 all out at tea.

India’s quicks had been less than satisfactory in the opening session, bowling a trifle too short, but they were transformed after lunch. From 54 for no loss England crumbled, handing India a lead of 168 runs.

The drama began three overs after the break. Ishant, who ought to have been given the new ball, squared Alastair Cook up, having the left-hander edge behind. It was the 10th time the Delhi bowler had removed Cook, two balls after he had been dropped by Cheteshwar Pujara at first slip.

The very next ball Jasprit Bumrah struck at the other end, as Keaton Jennings hung his bat out and nicked one. Ollie Pope essayed one confident cover drive for four but he was soon gone for 10, tickling Ishant down the leg-side as Pant claimed a good, diving catch.

Nervous start

The wicket-keeper had begun nervously, failing to stop a widish delivery down the leg-side from Mohammed Shami, getting in Pujara’s way before he dropped Cook, and getting caught wrong-footed when Joe Root edged behind. But the 20-year-old quickly settled down, and would finish with five dismissals on the day.

Pandya came on after drinks and struck with his very first ball, drawing an edge from Root.

There was a hint of controversy here as K.L. Rahul held a low catch at second slip. Root held his ground, not convinced that the catch had been a clean one, while Marais Erasmus referred the matter upstairs.

The ‘soft signal’ had been out and replays suggested that the ball bounced only after Rahul had got his fingers underneath it. Root was rightly declared out, but he walked off shaking his head while boos rang out.

Rahul was in the thick of things again a little later as Shami snared Ben Stokes, who prodded at the ball. The Karnataka man held the edge at second slip and cupped his ear: there was no questioning this catch.

Trent Bridge stunned

Stokes’s exit triggered a collapse of five for 20 in 22 balls. Four of these wickets went to Pandya, the Baroda man bowling full and getting the ball to move just enough. Trent Bridge was stunned. Jos Buttler threw his bat around late on, scoring a 32-ball-39 to eat into the lead. But India still went into tea firmly in control.

In the morning, a light drizzle delayed the start of play by half an hour. The sky was still overcast — as it would remain all day — when India resumed its innings. England had the ball swinging at once. Pant was the first to fall, five overs into the day, dragging Stuart Broad onto his stumps for 24. In his next over, Broad bowled R. Ashwin with a huge in-swinger.

James Anderson then mopped up the last two wickets in the space of two balls, India having lost four for 22 inside eight overs.

Shami and Bumrah then shared the new ball, with Ishant surprisingly held back. India ought to have made life miserable for England’s openers, both of whom had been struggling for confidence.

Instead, Bumrah and Shami were off-target, either dropping the ball short or straying down the pads, as Cook and Jennings got away, finding the boundary six times in total.

The home side made swift progress, scoring at more than five an over to get to 46 without loss at lunch.