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India face record chase on final day against England
CHENNAI, India, Feb 8, 2021 (BSSAFP) – England left India facing a world
record chase of 420 runs on Monday with one day to go in the opening Test in
Chennai.
India lost star batsman Rohit Sharma as they began their bid to overhaul
the mammoth target after England were all out for 178 in their second innings
on day four.
But India will take confidence from their recent experience in Australia
where they successfully chased 328 to hand the hosts their first defeat at
Brisbane’s Gabba ground since 1988.
At Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, Ravichandran Ashwin took six wickets
to help see England off, before the hosts reached 39 for one at stumps.
Left-arm spinner Jack Leach bowled Sharma for 12 on a deteriorating pitch.
Shubman Gill, on 15, and Cheteshwar Pujara, on 12, were batting at the
close with India needing another 381 runs to win the first of the four Tests.
On a dominant day for spinners, Ashwin claimed his 28th five-wicket haul
in England’s second innings that ended into the final hour of play.
Ashwin said he was expecting England to go big on runs in their second
innings after deciding against making India follow-on.
“I think the approach was something we expected that they will put 430-440
on the board, so we were also trying to manage our overs accordingly,” said
Ashwin.
“I am not sure what went on inside their dressing room, but I’d like to
think in Test match cricket the bowlers being tired and coming out to bowl
another spell all these things get factored in (when not enforcing the follow
on).”
Ashwin though said it was “bizarre” to see the SG balls — used in Indian
Tests — tear through the seam as early as overs 35 and 40.
“It was bizarre, I haven’t seen an SG ball like that in the last so many
years but yes it could be due to the pitch and the hardness of it through the
centre which is making the ball scuffed up,” he said.
The off-spinner sent back Rory Burns with the first ball of the innings
and struck crucial blows, including taking Ben Stokes for seven.
Skipper Joe Root top-scored with 40 off 32 deliveries. He hit 218 in the
first innings of his 100th Test.
Root hit seven boundaries before being trapped lbw by paceman Jasprit
Bumrah. Ollie Pope (28) and Dom Bess (25) also helped England build a big
lead.
– ‘Fearless batting line-up’ –
Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem took two wickets and got wicketkeeper-
batsman Jos Buttler stumped for 24. Dan Lawrence (18) was Ishant Sharma’s
300th Test wicket.
“Quite a rollercoaster life so far,” said the paceman, who is playing his
98th Test of an injury-hit career.
“A lot of experiences, I’ve learned a lot about how to bowl in the
subcontinent, and what lengths to bowl when we go abroad.”
He added, “if we get a good start tomorrow, I’m sure we can chase this
down. We have a fearless batting line-up, and we’re very positive about
this”.
England’s deputy coach Jon Lewis said the team is confident of victory.
“We have played some really good cricket and we’re confident we can create
enough chances to win the game tomorrow. We are in a really strong position,”
said Lewis.
“India have some very strong batters but I think we have enough in the
tank to make sure that we win.”
India were bowled out for 337 in their first innings in the morning
session, 42 runs short of avoiding the follow on despite Washington Sundar’s
unbeaten 85.
Leach and paceman James Anderson took two wickets each in the morning
session to pack off India after the hosts started the day 257-6.
Sundar, who made his debut in the fourth Test of India’s historic win in
Australia last month, put on 80 runs with overnight partner Ashwin, who made
31.
England scored 578 in their first innings.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1930HRS