England vs India: Wood, Moeen breaks India in second test

Moeen Ali and Mark wood of England struck India during closing overs.

India was leading by 154 runs with the loss of 6 wickets before bad weather forced an early close.

At the start of the fourth day, Wood managed to strike down in-form KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma.

After Sam Curran took the wicket of Indian skipper Virat Kohli, England broke the top order when they only scored 55 runs.

Cheteshwar Pujara (45) and Ajinkya Rahane (61), both of who had struggled in the previous test match, managed to add 100 runs for the fourth wicket, but it was in 59 overs.

After India’s score reached 155-3, England strikes down three more for 20 runs.

Wood dismissed Pujara, after which off-spinner Ali dismissed Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja.

Wood, who was recalled in place of Stuart Broad who suffered from a calf injury ahead of the second test, took 3 wickets for 40 runs in just 14 overs after four days ended.

However, worryingly for England, Wood also had a shoulder injury that needs to be assessed.

On the other hand, Moeen was brought back in place of dropped batsman Dan Lawrence to an attack missing star all-rounder Ben Stokes and fast bowler Jofra Archer, had 2-52 in 20 overs.

Even though the floodlights were up, the umpires looked to suggest that the game could not continue if England took the new ball in the approaching darkness.

England, on the other hand, did not want to risk losing wickets in such a situation, with Rishabh Pant undefeated on 14 and Ishant Sharma unbeaten on four.

Following captain Joe Root’s stunning 180 not out in his side’s first-innings of 391, play resumed on Sunday with England 27 runs ahead.

With 129 and 83 runs respectively, Rahul and Rohit had delivered the bulk of India’s first-innings 364 runs.

On Sunday, however, Rahul was out for five runs after edging a 93 mph (150 kph) Wood delivery straight into wicketkeeper Jos Buttler’s gloves.

Rohit Sharma pulled India after he pulled a six off a 91 mph ball bowled by Wood. But, despite the fact that three fielders were out for the hook, he was superbly caught low down by Moeen, who was rushing in from deep square leg, for 21 runs.

India was now down to two players.

Kohli, who had been in good form, managed to escape a review for lbw on height by left-arm swing bowler Curran.

Still, on 20, Kohli edged a Curran delivery aimed across him and was caught behind off a small nick, prompting a joyous celebration run from the spinner.

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