Team India looked like a completely different unit on Day 2 of the third Test at Trent Bridge.
India started off at their 307/6 but was quickly bowled out for 329 thanks to Broad and Anderson. Rishabh Pant looked good for his 24 and England went to lunch 46/0 in 9 overs with both Cook and Jennings looking ominous.
But things took a sudden change as Ishant Sharma took Cook’s wicket for the 10th time in Test cricket with England on 54 runs, giving Rishabh Pant his first catch behind the wicket in Test cricket. Jennings followed suit as Pant was in action again off Bumrah.
Pandya then had Root caught for 14 in what was seen as a controversial catch by KL Rahul. Pope scored 10 and was dismissed before Root by Ishant Sharma, giving Pant his third straight catch. Pant actually had a record for becoming the first Asian wicketkeeper to take five catches on his Test debut. Stokes fell to Shami for 10 and then Pandya removed Bairstow (15), Woakes (8), Rashid (5) and Broad (0) to take his maiden five-for in Tests.
Buttler hit out after being joined by no. 11 Anderson and scored 39 in 32 balls with 2 sixes and three fours. But he went for one too many and was caught off the bowling of Bumrah.
Apart from Pandya’s 5/28, Bumrah (2/37) and Ishant (2/32) were the best bowlers for India and Shami took a solitary wicket to keep England at 161 and gave India a lead of 168 runs.
The cricket fraternity watching the match took to Twitter in elation at the bowling performance by Hardik Pandya and the Indian bowlers and complimented their efforts.
Here are some tweets:
Fantastic cricket, both in front and behind the wickets. Congratulations @hardikpandya7 and @RishabPant777 on your respective 5 wicket hauls! Let’s nip this in the bud now. #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/lNDVRbQFPc
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) August 19, 2018
All OUT in 38.2 Overs ..... I bet Jimmy & Broady are delighted with only a few hrs Rest !!!!! #Wtf #EngvInd
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 19, 2018
Wonderful effort by India to bowl out England in this extended 2nd session. Brilliant stuff from Pandya and the rest of bowlers for the probing lines and 168 is a very significant lead. Hope the batsman now capitalise and we have the match firmly in our control
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281) August 19, 2018
Funny old game .. mentioned on here last week that Pandya looks a good cricketer .. lots of India supporters flew in with ‘rubbish , he shouldn’t be in the team ‘ 5-25
— David 'Bumble' Lloyd (@BumbleCricket) August 19, 2018
Think Hardik cops a fair amount of criticism at times. He’s young in test cricket and work in progress too. This spell shows his value. Come in at a time when the captain and the team are a bowler down. Brilliant stuff from your fifth bowling option #EngVInd
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) August 19, 2018
Five wickets for Pandya. And I was advocating for his exclusion for a frontline batsman. Ouch. ???????????????? #EngvInd
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 19, 2018
Great spell @hardikpandya7 first 5 wicket haul in test cricket.. wish you many more.. Go india ???????? ????????????????????
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) August 19, 2018
10 wickets in the session. Fantastic from India. Hardik Pandya was the standout with that magnificent spell. Firmly in India ‘s control as of now.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) August 19, 2018
Eng bundled out in just 38.2 overs. Root may have been trifle unlucky, but was by no means comfortable in against sustained hostility from India’s pace quartet. What a dramatic change from the time when India was renowned for a quartet of spinners!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 19, 2018
