Visakhapatnam: Alastair Cook and his men were 87/2 at stumps on Day 4 of the second Test against India at Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium. Chasing a huge total of 404 runs, Cook and teenager Haseeb Hamid added 75 runs for the opening wicket before Indian spinners bounced back to remove both the openers.
India ( 455 & 204)
England 255
England, 2nd innings:
Over 59.2 | Score 87/2 | (Root 5*)
STUMPS: Jadeja got India yet another breakthrough as he trapped Cook in front of the wicket as the day came to an end. Cook was looking work the ball down the leg side, missed the line and was hit on the pads. He went for a review which couldn't save him. The day came to an end with that dismissal. The momentum has shifted India's away with the wickets of the openers.
AN Cook lbw b Jadeja 54 (188b)
Over 51 | Score 75/1 | (Cook 47*, Root 0*)
R Ashwin, Kohli's go-to man got India the much-needed breakthrough as Haseeb Hameed was taken aback by a delivery which sharply spun from outside the off-stump and hit him low on the pads. The wicket also ended the brilliant 75-run stand for the opening wicket. Joe Root is the new man at the crease.
H Hameed lbw b Ashwin 25 (144b)
Over 40 | Score 52/0 | (Cook 34*, Hameed 18*)
Cook and Hameed have added unbeaten 50 runs for the opening wicket. While the task ahead of them is massive, these two have given England a chance to create history. No team has ever chased down more than 400 runs in India. The visitors now trail by 353 runs with ten wickets remaining.
Over 28 | Score 40/0 | (Cook 28*, Hameed 12*)
TEA: England's session. Yes, the run-rate might be too less, but the fact that they haven't lost any wickets will give them a lot of confidence. The English think tank might now want to strategise for the next session which will be crucial. Indian spinners also need to pull up their socks and get Kohli some breakthroughs.
Over 25 | Score 35/0 | (Cook 23*, Hameed 11*)
Cook and Hameed continue to frustrate Indian bowlers. The runs have dried but the English openers have shown brilliant resilience so far. They now trail by 369 runs with all ten wickets remaining.
Over 7 | Score 17/0 | (Cook 9*, Hameed 8*)
With an uphill task ahead of them, Alastair Cook and Haseeb Hameed have made a cautious start so far. While too many boundaries haven't been hit by the pair, with plenty of time remaining in this match, there is no need to take unnecessary risks. Kohli would want his bowlers to get him at least 2-3 wickets today.
Over 63.1 | Score 204/10 | (Yadav 27*)
LUNCH: India have been bowled out for 204. Moeen Ali, bowling his first over of the day, struck off his first ball as Shami was stumped by Bairstow. Jayant Yadav and Mohammed Shami played some superb strokes and added valuable 42 runs for the last wicket. That partnership was a frustrating one for Cook and his men, who have fought back hard in the morning session. England now need 405 runs to win the match. There is plenty of time remaining in this match.
Mohammed Shami st †Bairstow b Ali 19 (22b)
Over 55 | Score 166/9 | (Yadav 8*, Shami 4*)
Adil Rashid picked two more wickets for England. England have fought back brilliantly in the morning session. While Broad set the platform early in the day, Rashid has troubled the Indian batsmen with his variation.
UT Yadav c Bairstow b Rashid 0 (4b)
RA Jadeja c Ali b Rashid 14 (24b)
Over 48 | Score 153/7 | (Jadeja 13*, Yadav 1*)
Virat Kohli's brilliant innings came to an end as Ben Stokes took a mind-blowing diving catch at slips to dismiss the India skipper off Adil Rashid's bowling. Kohli chased a wide delivery, it flew towards slips, and had almost crossed Stokes before he put a full stretched dive to pull off a spectacular catch. Kohli will not enter history books as a result of Stokes' sensational effort. Earlier, Rashid dismissed Saha to give England another breakthrough. Jayant Yadav is the new man in.
V Kohli c Stokes b Rashid 81 (109b
WP Saha lbw b Rashid 2 (4b)
Over 43 | Score 130/5 | (Kohli 73*, Saha 2*)
Broad was in the middle of a fine spell and he almost got Ashwin's wicket, but the DRS saved the offie. In real time action, it looked like Broad had trapped Ashwin in front of the wicket but the DRS suggested a clear inside edge. In his next over, in full rhythm, Broad picked Ashwin's wicket off the first ball as he edged one behind the wickets. Saha is the next man in. Bowling with a troubled foot, that's exceptional bowling by Broad.
R Ashwin c Bairstow b Broad 7 (12b)
Over 40 | Score 124/4 | (Kohli 71*, Ashwin 6*)
Stuart Broad got the first breakthrough of the day when he bowled a leg-cutter to Rahane, who was surprised by the bounce and edged it to Cook at first slip. R Ashwin is the new man in. Kohli and Rahane added 77 runs for the fourth wicket.
AM Rahane c Cook b Broad 26 (65b)
Over 37 | Score 114/3 | (Kohli 69*, Rahane 24*)
Kohli and Rahane continue the good work. Kohli got four runs added to his name when a throw hit the stumps and went past the ropes. Kohli also drove Anderson through covers for an elegant boundary. Kohli would break several records if he goes on to hit another century today.
Earlier, India skittled England out for just 255 runs in their second innings. R Ashwin, who had been kept quiet in the series so far by English batsmen, bounced back to claim yet another five-wicket haul.
What to expect on Day 4:
India, thanks to their 200-run first innings lead, will push for a big target against England. With Virat Kohli batting, and once again, looking at his best, India can hope for a minimum of another 100-odd runs before finally declaring. A target of less than 400 runs will be considered a risk.
For England, their first priority will be to dismiss Kohli, and pray that the Indian middle-order flops once again. If India declare early on the penultimate day, Alastair Cook & Co will need to see out the day and hope that the final day also favour them.
Day 3 recap:
Ravichandran Ashwin was back in his element with yet another five-wicket haul, setting up a perfect launchpad for skipper Virat Kohli to extend India's lead to 298 runs against England.
Courtesy Ashwin's 5 for 67, the first time he has picked so many against England in an innings, India bowled out England for 255 in their first essay to take a commanding lead of 200 runs.
Deciding against enforcing follow-on, India reached 98 for 3 in their second innings at close of play with skipper Kohli once again leading from the front with an attacking 56 off 70 balls. His innings was laced with six boundaries.
With 33 minutes to tea, England's first innings folded for in 102.5 overs with a deficit of exactly 200 runs.
Ben Stokes wicket virtually opened the gate for India as Ravindra Jadeja bowled Zafar Ansari (4) at the other end before the Ashwin trapped Stuart Board (13) and James Anderson (0) leg before off successive deliveries.
When India batted, England struck early with Stuart Broad (2/6) making full use of the DRS to remove both the openers -- Murali Vijay (3) and KL Rahul (10), who failed in both of his innings before James Anderson castled Cheteshwar Pujara (1) to reduce India to 40/3 inside 17 overs.
Visakhapatnam: Welcome to our live coverage of day 4 of second Test match of the India-England 2016 series, being played at Visakhapatnam.
