India vs England 1st Test Match, Leeds: Day two.

 India vs England : 1^st Test Match at Leeds

Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy

Day two :

Fascinating day of Cricket with highs and lows, ups and downs and momentum swinging either way.

It was an eventful sunny morning rainy afternoon;  the day had witnessed a record created for the first time in 148 years of test cricket with both Captain and Vice Captain scoring centuries on their debut in their respective roles. 

The other interesting highlights were England bowlers coming back to bowl a disciplined line thereby resulting in seven wickets falling for 41 runs,  acrobatics of Pant after he scores century and his iconic tumbling shot over the fine leg, Bumrah bowling his heart out and England batters defending the big score in front of them were the talking points of the 2nd day’s play.

The day started under watchful eyes of Gill and Pant with plans to score as many runs on 2nd day. Both continued to score at ease with Pant going after the bowlers and scoring at will. Pant magnificently completes his century in style with a six, enthralling the crowd with his innovative stroke play. English fast bowlers tried their best, line  & length much improved  from day one but couldn’t provide the breakthrough till 90 minutes of the 1st session. 

Gill and Pant had a fantastic 209 runs partnership which ended with Gill out caught at deep square leg. Karun Nair couldn’t open his account and India lost two wickets in quick succession. Pant tried to score to reach a respectable total however was trapped leg before off the bowling of Tongue. The last 30 minutes before lunch and immediately after play resumed saw 7 wickets fall for 41 runs. India starting the day at 359 for 3 were 430 for 3 and all out for 471. Ben Stokes and Tongue took 4 wickets each. 

England with herculean task ahead started their innings on a optimistic note. Bumrah for India taking full advantage of the conditions  produced a fiery spell. Crawley couldn’t manage a swinging delivery and was caught in the slips. Siraj though was producing lively spell couldn’t give the breakthrough. Pope and Duckett  survived few close calls and their partnership yielded 122 runs. Prasidh Krishna along with Shrdul Thakur looked very ordinary and gifted too many runs settling their batters. Jadeja on the other hand was using the wicket and few deliveries really troubled the batters. Root and Pope continued with a partnership stand of 80 runs and It was Bumrah who got the next breakthrough and also is the only wicket taker for India. It was the 10th time Bumrah had taken the wicket of Root.

Pope who was not sure about his place in the team scored a well made century thereby breathed a sigh of relief. With Root gone the next batter Brook  had to face an eventful last over when Bumrah unsettling him and also had taken his wicket but were no ball deliveries. 

But for couple of dropped catches and sloppy fielding England would have lost five to six wickets but this is the game of glorious uncertainties and at the end of the 2nd day England were 209 for 3, trailing by 262 runs. Bumrah with a bowling figures of 3 for 48 was the best bowler for the visitors.

It was a mixed day, with honors shared or it is 60:40 in India’s favour. 

As it is always said 3rd days play is moving forward day in tests, we all wait for an interesting 1st session hoping Bumrah along with Siraj to give couple of wickets and tilt the match in India's favour.