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29 March 2024

England vs India Lord's Test finely poised after Ballance ton

Published
By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies

England's Gary Ballance scored his second Test century as the second Test against India sat evenly-poised following a sweltering day's play at Lord's on Friday.

Having dismissed the visitors for 295 on a pitch that appears to be getting easier to bat on, England reached 219 for six at the close of day two. Liam Plunkett (4) and Matt Prior (2) will look to reach India's total on Saturday should the predicted poor weather hold off, while the visitors will be desperate to take a lead into their second innings.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the pick of the Indian bowlers, getting rid of captain Alastair Cook and Sam Robson before lunch and Ian Bell after the break.

The hosts also lost Joe Root before Ballance and Moeen, two of England's success stories in what has been a tough period after series defeats by Australia and Sri Lanka, combined to good effect.

They put on 98 for the fifth wicket, having come together with their side in trouble at 113 for four.

While others in England's order struggle, Zimbabwe-born Ballance continues to prosper at number three, scoring two centuries and two half-centuries in his last five turns at the crease.

He hit 15 boundaries in total, reaching three figures off 186 balls when he flicked Stuart Binny through the on side.

After lofting the first ball he faced to the fence, Moeen showed commendable patience in supporting Ballance before being trapped lbw by part-time spinner Murali Vijay for 32.

Ballance fell shortly after the new ball was taken, well caught down the leg side by Mahendra Singh Dhoni to become Kumar's fourth wicket. Question marks remain over the form of Cook, however, who has not passed three figures in over a year and has now scored 93 runs in six test innings against Sri Lanka and India this season after this latest failure.

He looked comfortable at the crease before nibbling at a ball from the accurate Kumar that was caught by Dhoni behind the stumps, a combination of poor footwork and lack of conviction contributing to his downfall.

Fellow opener Sam Robson's determination to fling the bat at a ball from Kumar saw him off for 17, while Ian Bell was taken by surprise by a delivery that jagged in and caught him on the glove, catches being taken by Dhoni and Jadeja respectively.

Joe Root was starting to look comfortable before being given out lbw to spinner Ravindra Jadeja despite him getting an inside edge.

Earlier India's first innings lasted only ten balls of the morning session before Ben Stokes had Shami caught by Cook, his 100th test catch, with five runs added to the overnight score.

The quick breakthrough was scant consolation for the hosts, who had India at 145 for seven just after tea on Thursday before Ajinkya Rahane (103) combined with the lower order to ensure their bowlers had a total to defend.

The first match of the five-test series at Trent Bridge was drawn.

CLOSE

England are 219-6 in 86 overs at close.

Kumar gets another breakthrough with the second new ball as Ballance's obdurate knock comes to an end as feathers it down the leg side with Dhoni taking a brilliant catch. Eng 214-6 in 82.1 overs.

Gary Ballance c Dhoni b Kumar 110 (203b 15x4 0x6)

Part-time spinner Vijay breaks the fifth wicket stand which yielded 98 runs trapping Moeen leg before. Eng 211-5 in 78.5 overs.

Moeen Ali lbw b Vijay 32 (106b 4x4 0x6)

Gary Ballance scored his third test half-century but India remain on top on a sweltering second day of the second test against India at Lord's on Friday.

Having dismissed the visitors for 295 on a pitch that is losing its green tinge and appears to be getting easier to bat on, England saw their way to 125 for four at tea, with Ballance (51) and Moeen Ali (6) to resume after the break.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the pick of the Indian bowlers, getting rid of captain Alastair Cook and Sam Robson before lunch and Ian Bell after the break.

Ballance looked to find the boundary when given width to hit, but was lucky to survive Stuart Binny's second over, when an edge flew between wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and first slip.

He started the middle session alongside Ian Bell aiming to kick on after a testing period before lunch, but lost his partner when Bell was caught by surprise by a ball that jagged in off the pitch, catching him on the glove and looping to Ravindra Jadeja.

Joe Root was just starting to take some initiate when given out lbw to spinner Jadeja despite him getting an inside edge, but Ballance remains steadfast at the crease as he further cements his place at number three in the England order.

TEA

England are 125-4 in 53 overs tea, still 170 behind, with Ballance unbeaten on 51. Moeen Ali is with him at the break.

Kumar has best figures of three for 34.

Ballance completes his third Test half century with a single off Jadeja. Eng 122-4.

Moeen Ali is off the mark with a boundary first ball sweeping Jadeja to mid-on. Eng 117-4.

Jadeja strikes in his second over trapping Root leg before though replays showed it had got an inside edge. Eng 113-4 in 46.3 overs.

Joe Root lbw b Jadeja 13 (50b 0x4 0x6)

Ballance gets another boundary of Binny edging between the keeper and slip fielder. Eng 95-3.

Binny comes into the attack and his first ball is despatched to third man by Ballance. Eng 91-3.

Ballance cuts Kumar square of the wicket through point for a boundary. Eng 85-3.

Ballance and Root are getting a move on for England with some smart running between the wickets including a four all run. Eng 79-3.

Kumar has struck again getting the key wicket of Bell who fails to get out of the way of a short delivery gloving it to Jadeja in the slips. Eng 70-3 in 31.4 overs.

Ian Bell c Jadeja b Kumar 16 (56b 2x4 0x6)

Ballance hits the first boundary after lunch when he upper cuts Kumar to third man. Eng 68-2.

England captain Alastair Cook's poor run at the crease continued when he fell for just 10 in the morning session on the second day of the second Test against India at Lord's on Friday.

Having dismissed the visitors for 295 on a green-tinged pitch, England saw their way to 51 for the loss of Cook and Sam Robson at lunch, with Gary Ballance (7) and Ian Bell (11) to resume after the break.

Left-hander Cook has not passed three figures in over a year, and has now scored 93 runs in six test innings against Sri Lanka and India this season following his latest failure.
 
He looked comfortable at the crease in London's sweltering heat, before nibbling at a ball from the accurate Bhuvneshwar Kumar that was well taken by Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps.

Opening partner Robson was lucky to survive the previous over from Mohammed Shami, but second slip Ajinkya Rahane spilled a simple catch.

Dhoni ensured he did not have another life, claiming a simple catch when Australia-born Robson flailed at a ball outside off-stump on 17 to give Kumar a well-deserved second wicket and leave England's innings teetering at 31 for two.

Ballance and Bell dug in to ensure there was no further loss before the break and while they barely troubled the scorers, they showed appropriate discipline on a surface still offering encouragement to the seam attack.

Earlier India's first innings lasted only ten balls of the morning session before Ben Stokes had Shami caught by Cook, with five runs added to the overnight score.

The quick breakthrough was scant consolation for the hosts, who had India at 145 for seven just after tea on Thursday before Rahane (103) combined with the lower order to ensure their bowlers had a total to defend.

LUNCH

England are 51-2 in 24 overs at lunch.

Bell whips Sharma to the midwicket fence for another boundary. Eng 46-2.

Bell cuts Kumar through to third man for his first boundary. Eng 39-2.

Dhoni has overtaken Alan Knott's (54) record of most dismissals in England vs India Test matches.

Kumar strikes again as Robson attempts to drive but only succeeds in getting a faint edge behind. Eng 31-2 in 14.1 overs.

Sam Robson c Dhoni b Kumar 17 (42b 1x4 0x6)


Ominous start for Ishant who bowls a long over overstepping and then delivering a wide before appeal for a leg before off Ballance.

Dhoni is now level with Alan Knott as the wicket-keeper with most dismissals (54) in Tests between England and India.

Cook's woeful form continue as he nicks Kumar with Dhoni making no mistake. Eng 22-1 in 10.1 overs.

Alastair Cook c Dhoni b Kumar 10 (29b 2x4 0x6)

Robson rubs salt into India's wound by dismissing Shami to the midwicket fence next ball. Eng 22-0.

Rahane drops a regulation catch at second slip off Shami as Robson edges to second slip with the ball popping to Jadeja who also fails to latch onto it.

Cook stands on his tip toes and taps Kumar to the midwicket fence for his second boundary. Eng 18-0.

Cook hits the first boundary of the England innings in the fourth over whipping Shami to fine leg. Eng 7-0.

Shami begins with a maiden to Robson probing the batsman with his swing delivered at  decent pace.

Cook is off the mark second ball with a single while Robson survives edging the first ball from Kumar between the slip fielders. Eng 2-0.

INDIA FIRST INNINGS

India resuming on 290-5 last just 10 balls adding five runs before being all out in their first innings.

Stokes wraps up the India innings with his fourth delivery having Shami caught at slip by Cook. Ind 295 all out in 91.4 overs.

Mohammed Shami c Cook b Stokes 19 (24b 3x4 0x6)

Shami hits the third ball of the day from Anderson through fine leg for a boundary.

Ajinkya Rahane scored a well-compiled century to help rescue India's first innings on the opening day of the second test against England at Lord's on Thursday.

England had reduced the visitors to 145 for seven on a bowler-friendly pitch early in the final session, but Rahane's 103, along with support from number nine Bhuvneshwar Kumar (36), ensured India had rallied to 290 for nine at the close.