Manchester, Aug 4: Stuart Broad produced a devastating spell of swing bowling as India suffered a dramatic batting collapse being bundled out for a paltry 152 to put England in the driver’s seat on the opening day of the fourth cricket Test here today.
Broad with deadly figures of six for 25 was ably complemented by an incisive Jimmy Anderson (3/46) as they made full use of the overcast conditions decimating the Indian top-order leaving the visitors reeling at 8 for four.
The Indian batsmen couldn’t show the required gumption to survive the first hour when it was a battle of attrition.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (71) battled against the odds with a technique of his own as he got a bit of support from comeback man Ravichandran Ashwin (40) and in-form Ajinkya Rahane (24), which certainly wasn’t enough to put up a decent enough total on the board.
At stumps, England looked in control as they reached 113 for three with only 40 runs required to get the first innings lead.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed Sam Robson (6) with an incutter. The batsman shouldered arms to a delivery that jagged back sharply after pitching outside off-stump.
Varun Aaron (2/26) playing his first Test match in nearly three years got Alastair Cook with a bouncer which the England captain mistimed. Aaron also got in-form Gary Ballance with a delivery that came into trap him leg before.
Ian Bell was batting on 45 alongside nightwatchman Chris Jordan (0 batting) as England enjoyed a productive day in office.
It was a day when India also equalled the world record of maximum number of ducks (6) in a Test innings alongside South Africa and Bangladesh.
The Indian top-order simply had no answer to the deliveries from Anderson and Broad, who again hunted in pair decimating the top four in less than 30 minutes after the commencement of the Test match. India lost four wickets without any addition of runs in a space of 12 deliveries to be reduced to 8/4 and never recovered from that.
Courtesy their skipper, who hit 15 boundaries in his 133-ball knock, India managed to atleast cross the 150-run mark.
Gautam Gambhir (4)’s bad habit of playing the dab shot down the third-man once again brought about his downfall.
Having not learnt his lesson over the years, there was virtually no footwork as Gambhir tried that glide to third man off a perfectly pitched delivery that was moving away after pitching. The result was a simple catch for Joe Root at gully.
Murali Vijay (0), who had otherwise had a decent series so far got a beauty from Anderson which pitched on middle and leg and then had a big late movement. The Tamil Nadu batsman had to play at it and Alastair Cook gobbled it up at the first slip.
Virat Kohli’s indecision outside the off-stump was fully exploited by wily Anderson as Cook took his second regulation catch at the first slip. Kohli was also out without scoring.
Broad then got into the act pitching the ball at perfect length as Cheteshwar Pujara went for a drive only to be caught by Chris Jordan in the slip-cordon.
Down at 8/4, Ajinkya Rahane and Dhoni led the rescue act with a 54 run partnership for the fifth wicket as English bowlers never let the pressure off.
Their 50-run partnership came in the 23rd over. Just when it appeared that they had seen off the session without any further damage, Jordan (1-27) struck a telling blow. Rahane went for an expansive drive and edged to Ian Bell at second slip.
Post-lunch, Dhoni was accompanied by Ravindra Jadeja (0), but the latter didn’t stick around for long as Anderson trapped him leg before. Ashwin was the next man in and he had a lot of stake, playing his first Test of the series. (PTI)
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