ENG v IND, 2nd Test: Anderson Brings England Back But India Holds Grip At Stumps On Day 2

Cricket Image for ENG v IND, 2nd Test: Anderson Brings England Back But India Holds Grip At Stumps O (Image Source: AFP)

Batters solidify England's case after James Anderson's 31st five-wicket haul brought the team back in the game as the hosts trail India's 364 by 245 runs at the end of day 2. 

India resumed on 276-3 after Rahul had batted in largely difficult conditions throughout the whole of Thursday's play.

But having scored two off Friday's first ball, from Ollie Robinson, Rahul mistimed a drive, a shot he had previously played so well, off the seamer's next delivery low to Sibley at short cover.

It was the end of a marathon inning of 250 balls that included 12 fours and a six, with Rahul also sharing an excellent first-wicket partnership of 126 with Rohit Sharma.

Meanwhile Robinson, in just his third Test, now had a second prize wicket in this innings after removing India captain Virat Kohli for 42 with the new ball late Thursday.

India's 278-4 soon became 282-5 when Ajinkya Rahane, looking a shadow of the batsman who scored a Test hundred at Lord's in 2014, fell for his overnight one when edging Anderson to England captain Joe Root at first slip.

Rishabh Pant, renowned as an attacking batsman, signaled his intentions by driving his second ball, from Robinson, down the ground for four. Pant had fit five boundaries in his 37 when he cut at a wide ball from fast bowler Mark Wood and was caught behind by opposing wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.

India's 331-6 then became 336-7 when Mohammed Shami fell for a duck after tamely chipping off-spinner Moeen Ali to midwicket.
Ishant, replacing the injured Shardul Thakur in the only change to India's XI, frustrated England for an hour, although he was dropped down the legside by Buttler, with Hameed missing a run-out chance next ball.

Anderson took matters into his own hands by having Ishant lbw for eight before the swing specialist had Jasprit Bumrah caught behind for a duck to complete his 31st five-wicket haul in Tests and seventh at Lord's.

It was a fine effort given Anderson had come into the game nursing a thigh problem, with England already without Stuart Broad after a pre-match calf injury that meant his longstanding new-ball partner was now out of the rest of this five-Test series. 

In reply, England batters survived a tough opening spell from Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah but a leg-side trap set up by Kohli got Mohammed Siraj his first wicket at Lord's as Dom Sibley handed a simple catch to KL Rahul at short-midwicket. 

Haseeb Hameed, who was playing his first test match after five years, didn't trouble the scorers as he missed a straight one off Siraj on his very first ball. 

Joe Root and Rory Burns revived the English inning with a crucial 84-run partnership from 164 balls. The two latched onto anything that was drifting past the leg stump or was too wide of off stump. 

Burns made a fighting 49 before Kohli brought back Shami late in the day and he got the opener out LBW. Bairstow survived a few close calls as umpires called stumps on day 2.

Brief Score: 

India - 364/10 in 126.1 (KL Rahul - 129; James Anderson - 5/62)

England - 118/3 in 45 overs (Rory Burns - 49; Mohammed Siraj - 2/34)