Chris Woakes did a ‘Shardul Thakur’ by playing a useful cameo to help England take a 99-run lead over India on day 2 of the fourth Test, at The Oval in London.
Just as Thakur saved India the blushes in the first innings with a quickfire 57, Woakes scored an exact 50 (11 fours) to hand the hosts a crucial lead. In response to India’s 191, England were bowled out for 290, with Ollie Pope top-scoring with 81.
Woakes put on 35 runs for the last wicket with James Anderson to frustrate the Indians.
Earlier, Pope was involved in two crucial partnerships – first with Jonny Bairstow, and then with Moeen Ali. The hosts were 227 for seven at tea on day two.
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The Indian pacers were unable to sustain the pressure on a pitch that seems to be getting better for batting with each passing session.
The first wicket in the session came through Mohammad Siraj, who trapped Bairstow (37) with his stock ball - the nip backer - in the fifth over after lunch. That also brought an end to an entertaining 89-run stand between Bairstow and Pope.
Pope then got together with Moeen Ali (35) to give England the upper hand. The two shared a 71-run stand and before a well-set Moeen played a poor shot off Ravindra Jadeja to throw his wicket away. The attempted slog sweep went straight into the hands of the cover fielder.
Jasprit Bumrah could have had Moeen leg before wicket earlier but India did not review on-field umpire's decision.
Pope played some exquisite shots en route to his sixth half-century. The drive on the up, the flick and pull shots were a treat to the eye.
In the morning session, Umesh Yadav struck twice in the first hour of play before a counter-attacking stand between Bairstow and Pope took England to 139 for five at lunch.
(With PTI inputs)
