Two late wickets towards the end of the day have given India a huge chance of winning the second Test after a resolute batting display from the England openers Haseeb Hameed and Alastair Cook revived England’s hope of saving the match. Set an improbable target of 405 on a deteriorating Vizag pitch, Hameed and Cook made a cautious start to set a good platform for their team.
The visitors’ intention of not going for a win was clear when their openers added only 40 runs in 28 overs in the second session. On a surface that was providing uneven bounce, Virat Kohli introduced his spinners as early as in the seventh over, a decision that was probably not right as Hameed was clearly struggling against the pacers. The introduction of the tweakers allowed him to settle down and he along with his captain started to frustrate the hosts.
Ashwin and Jadeja came close to dismissing the batsmen on a couple of occasions but apart from those rare chances, the openers held firm. India’s frustration only increased when they wasted both of their reviews in consecutive overs. Kohli’s men were finally rewarded for their patience in the 51st over when an Ashwin delivery kept very low and hit Hameed on the pad.
Cook and Joe Root then looked set to finish the day but Jadeja put the hosts firmly in the driver’s seat by dismissing the England skipper in the very last over of the day. The visitors are now 87 for 2 and need 318 runs to register an improbable win.
Earlier, starting the day on 98 for 3, the Indian batsmen could add only 106 runs. Virat Kohli once again top-scored for the hosts with a fluent 81-run knock. Stuart Broad and Adil Rashid were the chief architects of India’s collapse as they took four wickets apiece.
Here is how Twiter reacted to the day’s play:
https://twitter.com/cricketworms/status/800290805537599488
I have not seen any nation putting up a stronger fight in test matches against India in India. #IndvsEng @cricketaakash
— Shashank Kumar (@imshashank_kr) November 20, 2016
It's been a real good test match. Batsmen getting hundreds. Fast bowlers getting the ball to reverse. Spinners turning it well. #IndvsEng
— Sohini M. (@Mittermaniac) November 20, 2016
Jadeja's job wasn't even half done. Didn't run on the pitch enough.#INDvENG
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) November 20, 2016
what an unusual teenager this hameed fellow is – can concentrate for a long period without getting bored #INDvENG
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) November 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/deepeshmdk1906/status/800274200367767553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
How good is Haseeb Hamid,Just 19 and fighting like a pro in Indian conditions #IndvsEng
— BS (@Ahmadbilal111) November 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/hankypanty/status/800284571006889984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/StewieCricket/status/800283048675786752
Ashwin gets hilariously hyper when he wants his skip to take a review. And they lose another.#IndvEng #IndvsEng
— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) November 20, 2016
Would've still liked the umpire to have given that not out, just to see the replays and reactions of the out-of-review Indians#INDvENG
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) November 20, 2016
Kohli showing his displeasure that the DRS system keeps overriding the 'Indian Rules Apply' regime.
— ꜱɪʀ ꜰʀᴇᴅ ʙᴏʏᴄᴏᴛᴛ (@FredBoycott) November 20, 2016
2 reviews both not out. And that's the end of DRS when India is playing ? #INDvENG #cricket
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) November 20, 2016
https://twitter.com/nanuramu/status/800282844966682624
For all you know, India might go back to opposing DRS after the series ! #IndvsEng
— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) November 20, 2016
Admit it Md Shami is the greatest entertainer at no. 11 to have ever played for India. #IndvsEng
— Matargast Zero (@MatargastLog) November 20, 2016
India must show faith in young Rishabh Pant. Saha has been complete failure. Even our tailenders bat better than him! #INDvENG #INDvsENG
— Arun Deshmukh (@itsAD_1) November 20, 2016
1 Broken Stump & 2 SIXES Already By Shami:
Shami Maar Rha Hai
Shami Maar Rha Hai#INDvsENG #INDvENG— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) November 20, 2016
Needed something spectacular to get rid of Kohli.
That was a blinder at first slip frm Stokes.
English pacers have been brilliant.#IndvsEng— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 20, 2016
Kya servicing huyi hai Machine ki.
Wah Virat Kohli Wah !— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) November 20, 2016
This innings from Kohli has made sure that there will be only one winner in this contest. #IndvsEng
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) November 19, 2016
You realise how hard batting on this strip is only *after* Virat Kohli gets out.
— Prem Panicker (@prempanicker) November 20, 2016
No player is consistent if you compare their consistency with Virat Kohli.
— Chinmoy Sharma (@imChinmoy18) November 20, 2016
Kohli's 25th Test:
1st innings: 1
2nd innings: 8Kohli's 50th Test:
1st innings: 167
2nd innings: 81Both against England!
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) November 20, 2016