Bhuvi, Shami heroics light up Day 2
11 July 2014 5:58 AM IST
Last wicket pair of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohammed Shami produced a stunning rearguard century partnership as India recovered from a dramatic middle-order collapse to post a commendable 457 in their first innings on the second day of the opening cricket Test against England, here on Thursday. Bhuvneshwar (58) and Shami (51 not out) turned out to the unlikely batting heroes for India as they pulled the team out of trouble with a defined 111-run partnership to frustrate the hosts, who had the visitors reeling at 346 for nine at one stage with fours wickets falling for just two runs in a span of 20 balls.
At stumps, England were 43 for one with Shami (1/15) removing an out-of-form rival skipper Alastair Cook for five. The hosts still trail India by 414 runs with three full days play left in the match. Sam Robson (20 not out off 48 balls, 2 fours) and Gary Ballance (15 not out off 46 balls, 1 four) were at the crease when stumps were drawn. The duo added 34 unbeaten runs for the second wicket. But the day belonged to India’s tailenders -- Bhuvneshwar and Shami -- who struck their maiden Test fifties respectively en route to their century partnership, which incidentally is India’s second highest stand for the last wicket.
Earlier, Stuart Broad (2-53) and Ben Stokes (2-79) struck quickly after lunch. While skipper Dhoni was run-out by a direct throw from the most successful bowler James Anderson (3-109), Ravindra Jadeja (25), debutant Stuart Binny (1) and Ishant Sharma (1) were out playing poor strokes. The session began with Dhoni (81 batting) looking to reach three-figures eventually and take India’s score past the 400-mark. Jadeja had given him decent support before lunch, but was caught behind immediately after lunch, trying to cut Stokes away.
His 25 runs off 24 balls had couple fours and sixes. Two overs later, England struck twice as Dhoni set off for a suicidal single, missing a century which was there for the taking. The Indian captain could only add one more run to his pre-lunch score and was found short of his crease by Anderson’s direct throw from mid-off. He scored 82 runs after facing 152 balls, including 7 fours. Three balls later, debutant Stuart Binny (1) was dismissed by Stokes and India had lost 3 wickets in 14 balls for just one run. It soon became four as Broad cleaned up Ishant Sharma (1) and India were yet to cross the 350-run mark. At that point, 400 looked too far off but Bhuvneshwar and Shami showed a lot of application when it mattered.
In the morning session, thanks to Murali Vijay’s 146 runs, India were placed comfortably at 342/5 (118 overs) at lunch. Along with Dhoni, he survived a testing morning spell from Broad and Anderson. They were aided by keeper Matt Prior dropping a simple catch off Dhoni in only the third over of the day. The duo persisted and brought up their 100-run partnership for the fifth wicket in the 11th over of the day and the 101st of the innings. Vijay then slowly progressed towards the 150-run mark but when he was just one scoring shot away, he was trapped LBW by Anderson in his second spell of the morning. TV replays suggested that the ball might be travelling over the stumps, but the umpire’s finger had gone up and the Indian opener walked back after a heroic 146.
At stumps, England were 43 for one with Shami (1/15) removing an out-of-form rival skipper Alastair Cook for five. The hosts still trail India by 414 runs with three full days play left in the match. Sam Robson (20 not out off 48 balls, 2 fours) and Gary Ballance (15 not out off 46 balls, 1 four) were at the crease when stumps were drawn. The duo added 34 unbeaten runs for the second wicket. But the day belonged to India’s tailenders -- Bhuvneshwar and Shami -- who struck their maiden Test fifties respectively en route to their century partnership, which incidentally is India’s second highest stand for the last wicket.
Earlier, Stuart Broad (2-53) and Ben Stokes (2-79) struck quickly after lunch. While skipper Dhoni was run-out by a direct throw from the most successful bowler James Anderson (3-109), Ravindra Jadeja (25), debutant Stuart Binny (1) and Ishant Sharma (1) were out playing poor strokes. The session began with Dhoni (81 batting) looking to reach three-figures eventually and take India’s score past the 400-mark. Jadeja had given him decent support before lunch, but was caught behind immediately after lunch, trying to cut Stokes away.
His 25 runs off 24 balls had couple fours and sixes. Two overs later, England struck twice as Dhoni set off for a suicidal single, missing a century which was there for the taking. The Indian captain could only add one more run to his pre-lunch score and was found short of his crease by Anderson’s direct throw from mid-off. He scored 82 runs after facing 152 balls, including 7 fours. Three balls later, debutant Stuart Binny (1) was dismissed by Stokes and India had lost 3 wickets in 14 balls for just one run. It soon became four as Broad cleaned up Ishant Sharma (1) and India were yet to cross the 350-run mark. At that point, 400 looked too far off but Bhuvneshwar and Shami showed a lot of application when it mattered.
In the morning session, thanks to Murali Vijay’s 146 runs, India were placed comfortably at 342/5 (118 overs) at lunch. Along with Dhoni, he survived a testing morning spell from Broad and Anderson. They were aided by keeper Matt Prior dropping a simple catch off Dhoni in only the third over of the day. The duo persisted and brought up their 100-run partnership for the fifth wicket in the 11th over of the day and the 101st of the innings. Vijay then slowly progressed towards the 150-run mark but when he was just one scoring shot away, he was trapped LBW by Anderson in his second spell of the morning. TV replays suggested that the ball might be travelling over the stumps, but the umpire’s finger had gone up and the Indian opener walked back after a heroic 146.
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