India make a confident start by removing England openers (Lead)
August 19th, 2011 - 7:59 pm ICT by IANS
London, Aug 19 (IANS) India put on a much improved show on the second day of the fourth and the final cricket Test at The Oval, restricting England to 126 for two in the first innings at lunch here Friday.
England added just 51 runs in the morning session, losing the wickets of openers Alastair Cook (34) and Andrew Strauss (40). Ian Bell was batting on 29 and Kevin Pietersen on 18 at the break.
Unlike the first day, when only the first session’s play was possible due to heavy rains, the England batsmen struggled to score runs despite the cloud cover giving way to a clear blue sky.
India made a perfect start when Ishant Sharma drew Cook to a drive but a healthy edge flew to Virender Sehwag to first slip.
It took 20 minutes for England to add to their overnight score of 75 for no loss as Ishant made life difficult for the batsmen. Ishant’s first spell read 6-3-7-1.
Sreesanth delivered the second blow with a wide delivery and Strauss edged to wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni after adding just two to his overnight score.
India could have added another wicket in the last ball of the session when Pietersen flicked Ishant to leg-slip Suresh Raina, who was unsure if the catch was clean. Replays weren’t conclusive either.
- Bell's century takes England to 296/2 (Second Lead) - Aug 19, 2011
- Bell, Pietersen punish ragged India (Roundup) - Aug 20, 2011
- India pin England down to 124/8 (Tea report) - Jul 29, 2011
- Strauss and Pietersen steady England innings (Lunch report) - Jul 29, 2011
- Cook scores ton, England continue to dominate (Tea report) - Aug 11, 2011
- Pacers put India on top (Roundup) - Jul 30, 2011
- Trott survives to score half-century, England 127/2 (Tea report) - Jul 21, 2011
- Rain stops play at The Oval - Aug 18, 2011
- Rain curtails first day's play after morning session at The Oval - Aug 18, 2011
- England cruise to 75/0 at lunch against India (Lead) - Aug 18, 2011
- Lunch scoreboard: India vs England, Fourth Test, Day two - Aug 19, 2011
- India facing a series whitewash (Lead) - Aug 21, 2011
- Bell hits maiden double-century as England move to 591/6 (Lunch report) - Aug 20, 2011
- Lord's Test: Trott survives dropped chances to guide England to 127/2 (Roundup) - Jul 22, 2011
- Scoreboard: India vs. England, Fourth Test, Day Two - Aug 20, 2011
Tags: andrew strauss, clear blue sky, cloud cover, cricket test, dhoni, england, first spell, heavy rains, India, kevin pietersen, london, lunch, mahendra singh, morning session, raina, replays, wicket, wickets