India vs England: Cook’s last ball dismissal tilt match in host’s favour

India completed a convincing 246-run victory over England in the second Test at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam on Monday.

Root, who was dropped on one by captain Virat Kohli at leg slip off Ashwin, provided some resistance until fast bowler Mohammed Shami had him lbw for 25. They were 40 for no loss at tea, with Cook (28 not out) and Hameed (12 not out), with each of them having played 84 deliveries. The ball, again, wasn’t turning too often, there was only the odd one that varied in bounce, but the fact that they were accurate, meant the pressure was always on England.

The visitors were soon in trouble as Ben Duckett’s poor series continued when he fell without scoring to Ashwin, caught behind when he miscued a sweep shot against the world’s top-ranked bowler.

Ganguly also felt that given Yadav might not get to play regularly with Ashwin’s presence, it will be all the more important for the captain and the coaching staff to monitor Yadav’s progress.

Cook did survive a few DRS calls when India made a decision to review two lbw appeals from Jadeja and Ashwin, but the third umpire upheld the on-field calls on both occasions. The Indian continued to pressed hard and got Moeen Ali (2).

India took the second new ball straight away in the 81st over, and it brought with it the wickets of Ben Stokes and Root off consecutive overs that all but ended England’s aspirations of holding on for a draw. “Winning the toss doesn’t guarantee a result but it’s advantageous on such wickets”, said Cook, adding that “(India) have good bowlers for such tracks”.

It was just a matter of time for India to wrap-up the encounter.

Jonny Bairstow remained unbeaten at 34 while wickets kept tumbling at the other end. He bowled Zafar Ansari in the second over after Lunch.

He admitted he was surprised by the English batsmen in the second innings after Cook’s dismissal on the final ball of the fourth day.

England: 255 all out in 102.5 overs.

“But even India’s third innings and our first innings it became harder”.

England: 158 all out in 97.3 overs.

England also had their share of laugh when Staurt Broad and Adil Rashid bagged four wickets each to bundle out India for 204 providing target of 405 against England.

Rashid made that 162 for nine with the wickets of Ravindra Jadeja (14) and Umesh Yadav (0) before Jayant Yadav and Mohammed Shami (19) took the score past 200.