VISAKHAPATNAM , Feb 3:
Jasprit Bumrah put up a special exhibition of reverse swing on a flat deck after Yashasvi Jaiswal’s maiden double hundred to bowl out England for 253 in their first innings and put India ahead in the second Test here on Saturday.
India tallied 396 all out in their first innings after starting day two at 336 for six. Jaiswal (209 off 290) became the third youngest double centurion from India in the morning session and was the sole shining light in an otherwise grim batting effort.
In response, England were bowled out in 55.5 overs in the final session to concede a 143-run first innings lead to India.
Needing to bat five overs before stumps on day two, India were unscathed at 28 for no loss in their second innings.
England began aggressively courtesy Zak Crawley (76 off 78) before Bumrah halted their charge with a masterclass in reverse swing that resulted in his 10th five-wicket haul. He ended with figures of six for 45 in 15.5 overs, his best in India.
He also became the second fastest Asian fast bowler after Pakistan’s Waqar Younis to complete 150 scalps.
Joe Root (5), Ollie Pope (23), Jonny Bairstow (25) and England skipper Ben Stokes (47) were victims of Bumrah’s brilliance. The 30-year-old also completed 150 wickets in the process.
Kuldeep Yadav, playing his first game of the series, supported Bumrah with three wickets. R Ashwin could not get a wicket while second pacer Mukesh Kumar was taken to the cleaners.
India have managed to gain advantage but will need to bat well on day three as no total can be considered safe against the ‘Bazball’ driven England side. The pitch is gradually deteriorating with the odd ball keeping low or bouncing extra.
On either side of the afternoon and evening session, watching Bumrah go about his business was a sight to behold.
Everytime there was a partnership developing, Rohit Sharma turned to Bumrah and he did not disappoint his skipper.
He removing Root and Pope in a searing spell gave India much needed momentum after Crawley attacked the home team spinners to ensure England reached 155 for four at tea.
Bumrah put Root in his two minds by mixing the in and away swinger, leading to his downfall. Root was protecting his pads expecting an inswinger but Bumrah got the ball to move away from the fourth stump, inducing an outside edge.
The lead India pacer’s ball to dismiss Pope was even more special, a fast reversing yorker to which the England number three had no answer to. It was a ‘banana in-dipper’ that tailed from the fifth stump at a fair clip and England’s first Test hero failed to bring his bat down in time. (PTI)
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