Vizag Test: England Still in the Match, Says Stuart Broad

Cook and Hammed denied India any breakthrough until the 51st over as they chase an improbable 405-run target to win the second Test.

India’s Ravichandran Ashwin (2nd R) celebrates the wicket of England’s Ben Duckett with captain Virat Kohli (2nd L) and teammates during the last day of the second Test cricket match between India and England at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Vishakhapatnam on November 21, 2016.

The morning session saw England lose Moeen Ali who looped up a simple catch to fine leg off leg-spinner Ravindra Jadeja for just two runs.

However, Stokes’ innings was cut short by debutant Jayant Yadav who bowled a peach of a delivery to disturb his stumps on 6.

Skipper Alastair Cook and Haseeb Hameed may have frustrated the Indians with their dogged defence but Cheteshwar Pujara says it will be extremely tough for England to bat through the fifth day.

Faced with the task of a record-setting run chase for a touring team in India, England began well as the openers shared a 75-run stand in 50 overs, proving their determination and resilience.

England’s determination and skill over the past two days therefore came to nought, and they must contemplate how to restate their case and try to level the scores again in the third Test in Mohali at the end of this week.

Ashwin, who took his 22nd five-wicket haul in the first innings, cleaned up Zafar Ansari for a duck after lunch. Yeah we have dragged ourselves back into the game. “When it comes to Test cricket, our bowlers and as a team we are prepared to be in a situation where we have to work hard for our wickets but when we see a victory, we know that we can get eight more wickets”, he offered.

Man of the match Virat Kohli, who scored 167 in India’s first innings and a crucial 81 in their second, said: “It’s been a lucky ground for me, every innings that I’ve played here I’ve scored runs and it remains a special ground for me”. But we are very clear about our plans.

“Stuck it out in the end as well, Shami and him added about 45 for the last wicket”.

On the third day, England bowled out India for a mere 204 runs.

But captain Cook was upbeat in his assessment of his side, pointing to India’s first innings showing with the bat, in which they scored 455, as the key. “We have shown a lot of skill apart from a disappointing hour on day two”, Broad said after the match.