Ahmedabad: Riding on extra-ordinary perfomance by left-arm spinner Axar Patel, Team India reduced England to 112/10 in the second session of the pink-ball Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Wednesday.
Axar, playing in just his second Test, scalped six wickets while Ashwin returned with three wickets as the visitors were bowled out in just 48.4 overs. This was Axar's second five-wicket haul in a row as he had scalped five in the second innings of the second Test as well.
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2⃣ Tests
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 24, 2021 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
2⃣ five-wicket hauls, so far@akshar2026 - the local boy - continues to make merry as he scalps his fifth wicket. 👏👏
England nine down! @Paytm #INDvENG #TeamIndia #PinkBallTest
Follow the match 👉 https://t.co/9HjQB6TZyX pic.twitter.com/DJuhncFPd0
">2⃣ Tests
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 24, 2021
2⃣ five-wicket hauls, so far@akshar2026 - the local boy - continues to make merry as he scalps his fifth wicket. 👏👏
England nine down! @Paytm #INDvENG #TeamIndia #PinkBallTest
Follow the match 👉 https://t.co/9HjQB6TZyX pic.twitter.com/DJuhncFPd02⃣ Tests
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 24, 2021
2⃣ five-wicket hauls, so far@akshar2026 - the local boy - continues to make merry as he scalps his fifth wicket. 👏👏
England nine down! @Paytm #INDvENG #TeamIndia #PinkBallTest
Follow the match 👉 https://t.co/9HjQB6TZyX pic.twitter.com/DJuhncFPd0
Resuming the second session at 81/4, England got off to the worst possible start as both Ben Stokes (6) and Ollie Pope (1) were sent back to the pavilion. Stokes was trapped plumb in front of the wickets and as a result, Axar was rewarded with his third wicket. Ashwin on the other hand sent Pope packing for just 1.
Also Read: IND vs ENG, 3rd Test: Ishant Sharma becomes 2nd Indian pacer to play 100 Tests
If the former England players were critical of the Chepauk wicket, the lack of application from the English batsmen in the first innings of the third Test can have no excuses. Playing down the wrong line was the crux of the story and just like the top-order batsmen, Jofra Archer (11) too tried to cut a straight delivery and was clean bowled by Axar as the visitors were reduced to 93/7. This was Axar's fourth scalp in the innings.
Former England skipper Michael Vaughan after the first session had tweeted that England was trying the best to bowl with the pink ball under lights and his assessment was proved right by Joe Root's side.
Also Read: Sardar Patel Stadium renamed as Narendra Modi Stadium
Jack Leach (3), Stuart Broad (3), and Ben Foakes (12) all failed to stay at the crease for long and as a result, the hosts have given themselves the best possible chance to make this contest a one-sided affair.
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Another one bites the dust!
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 24, 2021 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
Ashwin has 3⃣, England 8⃣ down now as Jack Leach is caught at slips.@Paytm #INDvENG #TeamIndia #PinkBallTest
Follow the match 👉https://t.co/9HjQB6CoHp pic.twitter.com/fYDXZJrwfp
">Another one bites the dust!
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 24, 2021
Ashwin has 3⃣, England 8⃣ down now as Jack Leach is caught at slips.@Paytm #INDvENG #TeamIndia #PinkBallTest
Follow the match 👉https://t.co/9HjQB6CoHp pic.twitter.com/fYDXZJrwfpAnother one bites the dust!
— BCCI (@BCCI) February 24, 2021
Ashwin has 3⃣, England 8⃣ down now as Jack Leach is caught at slips.@Paytm #INDvENG #TeamIndia #PinkBallTest
Follow the match 👉https://t.co/9HjQB6CoHp pic.twitter.com/fYDXZJrwfp
Earlier, England opener Zak Crawley's dismissal at the brink of the tea break handed India the honours in the opening session of the pink-ball Test. Skipper Virat Kohli might have lost the toss, but his bowlers ensured that the hosts dominated the first session.
Brief Scores: England 112 (Zak Crawley 53; Axar Patel 6-38) vs India
