England vs India 3rd Test Day 2: India stretch lead to 292 after Pandya’s maiden five-for

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Hardik Pandya five wickets England India 3rd Test Day 2 Nottingham cricket

Hardik Pandya finished with figures of 5-28 off six overs

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

India pushed their lead to 292 on the second day in Nottingham after all-rounder Hardik Pandya scythed through England’s batting line-up with his maiden five-wicket haul.

Starting off the day on 307/6, India added 16 runs to their overnight score before debutant Rishabh Pant was clean bowled by Stuart Broad for 24.

Ravichandran Ashwin made 14 before suffering the same fate as Pant.

With James Anderson removing Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah in successive deliveries, India were bowled out for 329.

Broad, Anderson and Chris Woakes picked up three wickets apiece, while Adil Rashid chipped in with one.

Trailing by 329 runs, England made a solid start to their innings as openers Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings amassed a 54-run partnership before Cook was caught behind off the bowling of Ishant Sharma for 29 on the last ball of the 12th over.

On the first ball of the 13th over, Jennings was on his way back to the pavilion as he was caught behind off the bowling of Bumrah.

Ollie Pope only made 10 runs before he suffered the same fate as Cook.

Pandya took over after Pope’s dismissal as he carved through England’s middle and lower order, starting with the wicket of captain Joe Root, who was caught by Lokesh Rahul at second slip for 16.

There were doubts as to whether Rahul took the catch cleanly, but the third umpire ruled that he had, and Root was forced to trudge pack to the dressing room.

Shami took out Ben Stokes for 10 before Pandya removed Jonny Bairstow, Woakes, Rashid and Broad in quick succession.

With England struggling at 128/9, Jos Buttler began to up the ante and smashed a 32-ball 39, which included three boundaries and two sixes.

Thanks to Buttler’s fireworks, England managed to score 161 before they were bowled out, which gave India a 168-run lead.

Pandya was the most successful bowler with five wickets, while Ishant and Bumrah took two wickets apiece. As for Shami, he claimed one.

With a 168-run lead in hand, India made a strong start to their second innings as Shikhar Dhawan and Rahul forged a 60-run partnership before Rahul was clean bowled by Stokes for 36.

Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara kept the runs flowing with a 51-run stand before Dhawan was stumped by Bairstow off the bowling of Rashid for 44.

Pujara and India captain Virat Kohli ensured no more wickets were lost as they put together an unbeaten 13-run partnership before stumps was called.

Pujara finished on 33 off 67 balls, which included three boundaries, while Kohli remained undefeated on eight.

Stokes and Rashid snapped up one wicket apiece.

India ended day two on 124/2 and will continue batting on Monday at 11:00 local time or 10:00 GMT.

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