Ranchi, Feb 24: After Joe Root's valiant unbeaten 122, which powered England to a respectable 353 in the first innings, young English spinners duo of Shoaib Bashir and Tom Hartley rattled India on Day 2 of the Fourth Test at the JSCA International Cricket Stadium, here on Saturday.
At stumps on Day 2, the hosts were in dire trouble struggling at 219/7 in 73 overs. Excepting opener Yashasvi Jaiswal, India's top order almost had a collective batting failure.
Jaiswal was the lone bright spot again with a confident 73 knock, amid regular ruins at the other end.
Flamboyant Jaiswal faced 117 balls and hammered 8 boundaries and hit a towering six. But once he got out, the hosts appeared totally vulnerable and clueless against English slow bowlers.
For England, right-arm off-break Shoaib Bashir bowled 32 overs, claiming 4 Indian top order wickets and gave away 84 runs.
Bashir was ably supported by slow left-arm orthodox Tom Hartley, who too was impressive with 2/47 figure in 19 overs.
Overall, it was lack of application and patience by Indian batters, which dragged them to the pitiable situation they were on Day 2.
If India could not run through England's tail on Day 1, with Joe Root preventing one end, on Day 2 after Lunch, the hosts once again let themselves down by poor batting.
However, Yashasvi Jaiswal was the only exception. The southpaw proved once again, why he is class apart from his contemporaries.
Towards the end, young Indian wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who is playing only his second Test, showed enough resilience and batted sensibly. His unbeaten 30 and Kuldeep Yadav's 17 not out in 72 balls, was an eye opener for Indian top order. Jurel and Kuldeep shared a vital 42 runs partnership for the 8th wicket.
Earlier, replying to England's 353, the hosts lost their captain Rohit Sharma (2), Shubman Gill (38), Rajat Patidar (17), Ravindra Jadeja (12), Sarfaraz Khan (14) and Ravichandran Ashwin (1) cheaply.
Rohit was removed by English pace spearhead James Anderson, as keeper Ben Foakes caught a sharp edge behind the stumps.
But after Anderson's first wicket, young spinners duo of Bashir and Hartley ran through India. The hosts lost wickets at regular intervals, much to the rejoice of Ben Stokes & Co.
Shubman Gill was looking confident and appeared to be in good touch as he shared a 82 runs partnership with Jaiswal. But Gill fell to a sharp off-spin of Shoaib Bashir and was adjudged LBW.
Later, Patidar too fell to Bashir in the same fashion. He was adjudged LBW for 17. Ravindra Jadeja's feisty innings was too short. He was sent back by Bashir too, caught by Ollie Pope.
Then Tom Hartley removed Sarfaraz Khan and Ashwin in quick succession. Indian innings collapsed like a house of cards.
If England can get last three Indian wickets quickly on Day 3 first session, then the visitors bouncing back in the series with a possible win in Ranchi Test cannot be ruled out.
On the contrary, the hosts would look to bat longer and delay the proceedings. If they can manage to bat till Tea on the third day and add another 100 odd runs, then the results can swing either way.
But at this juncture, it appears England have complete control over the proceedings at the JSCA International Cricket Stadium.
Of course, nothing is impossible in cricket and it is really never over until it's over.
Brief Scores Stumps Day 2:
England 353/10 in 104.5 overs (Joe Root 122*, Ravindra Jadeja 4/67);
India 219/7 in 73 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 73, Shoaib Bashir 4/84).
Match to Continue.
