India level the series with the help of magical Ashwin

Series back to level pegging as India pulled off a memorable victory in Bengaluru test.

India gave a target of 188 runs to Australia, which the visitors knew won't be an easy task. Indian bowlers put up a fine performance with the ball to bring India back into the series.

When India were reduced to 246-8 from 238-4 in the space of 3 overs, Australia thought they had done enough to sense a victory in this test. But Saha and Ishant Sharma added some valuable runs for the last wicket to build some confidence in the team and make them believe that Aussies will not reach the total easily.

When Australia came out to bat, every member in Team India kept the belief in themselves. Captain, Kohli knew how the pitch would behave so he used his bowlers sensibly. Australia needed a good start to back themselves up but Indian bowlers had different ideas.

Every bowler stepped up to the task but the pick of the bowler was R. Ashwin. Ashwin completed his 25th five wicket haul and also completed 200 test wickets on Indian soil. He also surpassed Bishan Sing Bedi's 266 test wickets in the process.

Team India looked like a team on the mission as they were desperate to get this vital win and come back in the series.

The four match series is now tied at 1-1 and the next test will be played in Ranchi from 16th March. 

 

©sportskafun.blogspot.com

Lethal Australia do the damage with the second new ball

The Bengaluru pitch played it's part quite remarkably in the 1st session of the 4th day.

Credits : The Indian Express

India, who ended the 3rd day on a high without losing any wickets in the final session of the play, began the 4th day comfortably with Pujara and Rahane on the crease.

Rahane completed his half-century, while Pujara was sensing another century after spending more than 5 hours in the middle.

From 238-4 to 246-8

Australia needed something to put the pressure back on the Indians and the second new ball did exactly that.

Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood ran through the Indian middle order after knocking down 4 wickets in the 3 overs.

Starc started the destruction by first picking Rahane leg before wicket (with the help of DRS) and then on the very next ball Karun Nair on a duck. It looked almost inevitable to fend off Starc with the new ball. He was absolutely lethal.

In the next over, Hazlewood completed his 5-wicket haul by dismissing the set batsman Cheteshwar Pujara and then R. Ashwin. Hazlewood later got Umesh Yadav out on the edge of the circle.

This bowling performance by Aussie seamers shows how India needs to put their foot ahead when they come out to defend the target, whichever they set.

Wriddhiman Saha is showing some resilience after the stumble.

He, with Ishant Sharma, is the last pair on the crease as India still look to add some valuable runs to defend.

India trail by 1-0 in the series.

©sportskafun.blogspot.com

India keeps hold on England despite debutante Keaton Jennings heroics

It was England's day until a 30 minute period which balanced the game at the end of the day.

England won the toss and made a solid start with skipper Alastair Cook partnering with debutante Keaton Jennings. They both paced the innings beautifully, played shots all around the ground and survived any early scare. Jennings with the help of six fours reached 50 on his debut. The partnership fell just short of a century stand as captain Cook(46) was first to depart. Once again Jadeja picked up Cook's wicket in the series as he continues his hunt of the English skipper. Cook was stumped by Parthiv Patel.

Jennings was dropped on 0 by Karun Nair off Umesh Yadav's delivery

England lost only one wicket in the first session and ended it on 117/1. Jennings and Root continued the innings in 2nd session, but Root(21) gave away his wicket as skipper Kohli and the no. 1 bowler in test cricket, R. Ashwin combined to dismiss him. Keaton Jennings took full advantage of the early lifeline as he scored a century in his first ever test with 12 fours. It was a memorable moment for the debutante. After Root's wicket, England added 60 more runs in the session without losing any more wicket and went for tea at 196/2.

Umpire PR Reiffel was replaced by M Erasmus as the on-field umpire. Reiffel got hit on the head by the ball, as the throw came in from the deep.

Jennings and Moeen Ali continued the innings with full control and not gave away too much to the Indian bowlers. Ali reached his 9th test fifty. It looked like England will own the day, but in came R. Ashwin to pull the game into balance. 

The master of spin rolled his fingers to pick up two wickets in a single over. First to go was Moeen Ali(50), whose attempted sweep shot saw the top edge of the bat to land in hands of Karun Nair. Then after 1 ball, Jennings(112) get caught brilliantly by Pujara in the slips. 

With Moeen Ali's wicket, Ashwin crossed Javagal Srinath's 236 wickets to become 7th highest wicket taker for India.

With both set batsmen gone, India sensed the opportunity to pull themselves back into the game. Ben Stokes had to face the peril of Ashwin's spin but he somehow survived and got away. But this didn't stop India from getting one more. Ashwin got his 4th of the day after he dismissed Jonny Bairstow. 

Jos Butler and Ben Stokes survived the day with England putting 288 runs on board at the end of the day's play.


©sportskafun.blogspot.com

India two to the good

A commanding display by a young Indian Team, helped them to win the third test match at Mohali by 8 wickets.
Led by their aggressive captain Virat Kohli, India outclassed England quiet remarkably and extend their unbeaten streak to 16 after the win today. 

After losing the toss, everything just went right for Virat Kohli and India in this test right from day 1. Everybody stood up to the task, eager to take part in the game. The hunger was visible in the Indian team as they were playing against a side who won the last 3 test series, both home and away. England ran out of weapons as they had no answer for the brilliant spin bowling by India.


One thing which India enjoyed in this test was the resistance shown by the lower order during the first innings. Both Jadeja and Ashwin are in top 10 all-rounders in the world. The way they bowled in the 1st innings and then batted to take India past England's score and then take the lead was commendable.

Jayant Yadav has grown leaps and bounds as he enjoyed his 2nd test with maiden test fifty and some crucial breakthroughs. His experience in 1st class cricket helped him a lot.

Alastair Cook will be having some big concerns as their batting department hasn't fared very well in this test as well as the last test. Joe Root did show some signs of being the top run getter in tests in this calendar year but failed to bundle up big score. Moeen Ali was another failure with the bat.
New entrant Gareth Batty could not open his account today.and Jos Butler too crumbled under the pressure. Youngster Haseeb Hameed put up a brave performance despite a broken finger and coming out to bat at no. 8.

Parthiv Patel hit a half century in the 2nd innings, chasing a small total of 103. He looked aggressive right from the start, played great shots in both the innings. Virat Kohli is impeccable with his bat and he has shown it time and again. Other Indian batsmen should aspire to reach Kohli's level.

India has come a long way with Virat Kohli at the helm and there is still a long way to go but the kind of performance this team has put up just assert that why they are the no 1 ranked team in the world.

©sportskafun.blogspot.com

England reeling at the end of day 3

Team India in complete control of the Mohali Test. Indian spinners are on a roll. England still trail by 56 runs in 2nd innings with almost half of their side back into the pavilion.

It was a good day at the office for Team India. First with the bat and then with the bowl. Ravindra Jadeja resumed from where he left on day 2 along with Ashwin. They both added some valuable runs with their partnership. After Ashwin got out, Jadeja found a new partner in Jayant Yadav, who only in his 2nd test match scored his first test fifty. A fifty of real quality. England were helpless in the first session of the day. Striking just one blow on India.

India's lower order showed great resistance and helped mount a good lead of 134 runs. India batted for almost two sessions of day 3. It was a remarkable performance from Ashwin, Jadeja and Jayant.
India ended their 1st innings on 417 runs. Ben Stokes was the pick of the bowlers with a five-wicket haul. His figures were 5/73.

England started their 2nd innings under real pressure with such a big lead to overcome, they knew they could not afford to lose early wickets. But looking at the form India bowlers were in, wickets were inevitable.

And as it was written in the script for India, Ashwin drew the first blood in the form of Alastair Cook's wicket. It was just 27 runs on board. Ashwin's blistering performance continued as he scalped Moeen Ali's wicket to get his 2nd of the innings.England were 39/2 at the moment. Bairstow and Root tried to make amends for the early losses but could not go the distance as England lost two more wickets by the end of day's play.

The killer blow was Ben Stokes' wicket in the last over of the day when he was given not-out by umpire Chris Gaffaney and Team India challenged the decision and got it right as the three reds which brought smile on India's face made Ben Stokes' face red.

England ended day on 78/4 and have their lives on the sword as team India are completely on top. 

©sportskafun.blogspot.com

How India downed England in Vizag?

India scripted a famous win against England in the second test match of the series in Vizag.

Virat Kohli continued his excellent form, both as a captain and a player, as he led his side to an all time 2nd biggest win over England.

It was the 92nd test win for India at home. India haven't lost at home since January 2013. A record which displays the kind of form Team India are in.

Virat Kohli has become the face of cricket in India. He is a consummate professional and time and again he shows it on the field. India is lucky to have a player of his credibility. 

Let's have a look at things which proved to be the difference between India and England:-

1. Bowlers-  

Rajkot was not so good for Ashwin and co. as they were criticized for lacking hunger and attacking intent.

But in Vizag, Ashwin reminded everyone why he is the best bowler of tests in the world. Taking his first 5-wicket haul and 22nd overall in the first innings. Ashwin clearly made all the doubters hide their faces.

His strict bowling and knocking out key wickets pressurized England in both the innings. And he ended the match with a total of 8 wickets.
The pitch was not so helping in turn and bounce. But he made sure his arsenal has enough armoury to tease and trouble the English batsmen.

Ashwin had a great support in the face of Jadeja. Both strangled the English batsmen, not allowing them to pick any run. This pressure from the spinners helped the seamers too.

Mohammed Shami was deadly with the 2nd new ball in the first session of the last day, picking up a crucial wicket of Joe Root.

Ashwin with 8 wickets in this test took his tally to 56 and is now the leading wicket-taker in tests this year. Rangana Herath is 2nd with 54.

2. Virat Kohli' individual brilliance- 

On the pitch where England batsmen struggled to get going, here was a man who scored a 150+.

The talent this player has, sometimes it cannot be described in words. He came out to bat when India were 2 down in the first half hour on the first morning of the test. His temperament, composure and ability to overcome any situation, shows why he is undoubtedly India's and world's best batsman.

Virat's 167 in the first innings and Pujara's 119 helped India put up a big total on board.
In 2nd innings, no Indian batsmen really held onto the crease, but Kohli again scored 81. He really proved to be a big difference with his bat.

3. Jayant Yadav -

 The debutant, who produced an all-round performance was the icing on the cake.
His experience in First-class cricket helped him earn the praise he is receiving from everyone. 

First with the bat in the 1st innings, partnering with fellow off spinner Ashwin to add some runs at the end and then with the bowl picking up a crucial wicket of Moeen Ali with the help of DRS. 

In his first match, his understanding of the game was plausible.
Jayant didn't stop here, in 2nd innings he scalped 3 wickets, and helped India won the match with a big margin.
Kohli and Ashwin heaped praise on Jayant after the game and why not. After all he produced such an excellent performance.

The players are high on confidence and ready to win a series against the only team which has not lost in India in last 4 years. 

Next test starts on 26th November in Mohali.

©sportskafun.blogspot.com