England continued their domination over India in the second Test at Lord’s on Saturday (August 11). After bowling out the visitors to a mere 107 on the second day, the English batsmen piled on the agony and ended up making 357/6 at stumps on Day 3.
Despite reducing England to 89/4 in the first session, Indian bowlers didn’t manage to tighten up the screws. At first, England's wicketkeeper batsman Jonny Bairstow put on a 42-run stand for the fifth wicket with Jos Buttler and then followed it up with a match-changing 189-run partnership with Chris Woakes.
Bairstow scored 93 runs before Hardik Pandya got rid of him while Woakes registered his maiden Test ton from 129 balls. After Bairstow’s dismissal, Woakes carried on the good show with the hero of the last match – Sam Curran. The duo forged an unbeaten 37-run stand in rather quick time to dent India’s confidence even further before the bad light stopped play and the game was eventually called off for the day.
While Woakes remained not out on 120, Curran stayed at the crease on 22* as England stretched their lead to 250 runs at stumps on Day 3. For India, Mohammad Shami claimed 3 wickets whereas Pandya and Ishant chipped in with 2 and 1 scalp each.
Twitter experts were impressed to see the way Woakes and Bairstow took the game away from the tourists while they were also critical of the Indian bowlers.
Here are some of the top tweets:
Yes @chriswoakes !!!! What an achievement! First test ???? and now on both honours boards @HomeOfCricket ! Well done mate!!! @englandcricket #ENGvIND
— Ian Bell (@Ian_Bell) August 11, 2018
Rain will play a big part in this Test match with England already in a commanding position. Lead of 250 on day 3 #ENGvIND
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) August 11, 2018
Mikey Holding with praise for Jonny Bairstow ... quite right too .. outstanding player
— David 'Bumble' Lloyd (@BumbleCricket) August 11, 2018
Huge congratulations @chriswoakes special moment!! ???? and @HomeOfCricket ???????? #ENGvIND
— Isa Guha (@isaguha) August 11, 2018
Stuffed. Fantastic recovery by Eng after most top order gone. Woakes had point to prove & did it splendidly. India's best hope now is rain
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 11, 2018
One of the great guys ... I don’t know anyone in the world of Cricket who will not be delighted @chriswoakes has a Test Ton at Lords ... #ENGvIND
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 11, 2018
So pleased for @chriswoakes . One of the real team guys and living up to his nickname... the wizard! Congrats mate, hell of an achievement #honoursboard #besthairincricket
— Mark Wood (@MAWood33) August 11, 2018
Even as England play themselves into an unassailable position it is worth bearing in mind that England have had the best of the conditions each day.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 11, 2018
India 107
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 11, 2018
Woakes 120*
Doesn’t make for pretty reading.... #EngvInd