U.K. London, Lord’s: India annihilated England in the second Test to take a 1-0 series lead after a nerve-wracking fifth-day comeback at Lord’s on Monday. The hosts were skittled out for an ignominious 120 after Virat Kohli’s side declared for 298-8 just after lunch with a lead of 272. Mohammed Shami (56 not out and 1/13 in 10 overs) and Jasprit Bumrah (34 not out and 3/33 in 15overs) played innings of their lives and then rocked the England top-order, before Ishant Sharma (2/13 in 10overs) and Mohammed Siraj(4/32) played their part to perfection to give the visitors a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. It is India’s third win at Lord’s before 1986 and 2014.
‘Bhum-Sham’ partnership
The day began for India in gloomy notes when Rishabh Pant edged Olie Robinson to Jose Butler. India was just 167 runs ahead of the English first innings score. Virat Kohli’s smirk at the balcony gesticulated the disappointment of the Indian dressing room. England was on the top. Soon the dogged determination of Ishant Sharma came to end when he was trapped in front for 16. India’s lead was only 182 and the end seemed imminent.
Seeing Bumrah come into bat, the Englishmen were on their toes, a this was the man who dared to bowl bouncers and hit their talisman, James Anderson. They bowled to both tail-enders a lot of short-pitched stuff. Root decided to spread the field anticipating a lot of aerial shots from the duo but to his horror and the Indian dressing room’s pleasant surprise, both were ready to put their heads down and played proper cricketing shots.
With Mark Wood bowling with deep point and deep mid-wicket, the singles came easily and both of them showed copybook forward defence to Moeen, someone who has troubled the top order regularly. They were peppered with a few short balls and Bumrah also got hit on the helmet by Wood but he manfully carried on concentrating even more.
The duo added an unfinished partnership of 89 runs. The smirk of Kohli changed to a wide grin and then to a jubilant laugh. He knew that India can not lose this match anymore. This is one of the turnarounds partnership of the ninth wicket in the recent history of World cricket.
England’s hara-kiri
Needing to bat out for two sessions for a respectable draw, England’s innings started horribly. Backed by their inspiring partnership, both Shami and Bumrah removed both the openers. Shami had bowled a leg-cutter to get Dom Sibley (0) and Bumrah had forced Rory Burns (0) to close his bat for a catch at short mid-off. England innings score read 1 for 2 and was in all sorts of bother. Root and Hameed tried to stabilise the innings before Ishant trapped Hameed in front of the wicket and the English score was 44 for 3.
Siraj’s magic
Just before tea, Ishant removed scratchy looking Bairstow for 2. Immediately after tea, Bumrah produced a ‘ jaffa’ to remove in-form batsman Joe Root who was batting confidently. The ball pitched in line with the off stump and straightened out. It nicked the bat and Kohli at first slip caught it gleefully. Indian Captain knew that they caught the big fish. The score was 67 for 5.
It could have been six down soon had Virat Kohli held onto the catch provided by Jos Buttler at first sip but it evaded his reverse cupped palms. Striving on a dropped catch, Butler began to bat sensibly along with another batsman Moin Ali. During this period, India tried her best to break the partnership but in vain.
The duo consumed 15 overs and frustration was creeping in for India. Kohli was on his mouthful and was very vociferous. Time was running out for India. Then came Mohammad Siraj, and he produced two gems of deliveries which removed Moeen Ali and Sam Curran back to back. Bumrah removed sticky Robinson for 9, the match was delicately poised.
With 9 overs remaining in the match, Kohli threw the ball to Siraj. He was steaming in for what became the final over of the day. He made Butler knick the ball to the wicketkeeper who was battling for survival. The next batsman was Anderson, the most sought after man for India. He was cleaned up by Siraj and all ended up for England. India’s jubilation needed no bounds. India registered a thrilling victory over the host by 151 runs.
The Indian coach Ravi Shastri, would have called this victory from the commentary box – India on a cock- a- hoop!
