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Southampton, Aug 31: Cheteshwar Pujara once again proved why he's called one of the best Test match specialists as he played an innings of his life under pressure to help India take a slender 27 run lead in the first innings on day two of the fourth Test match here on Friday (August 31).
The 30-year-old right-handed batsman remained unbeaten at 132 as India were all out for 273 in their first innings before Moeen Ali returned with yet another five-wicket-haul at Aegis Bowl.
Pujara struck his 15th Test hundred in Southampton with a fine knock, patient throughout and protecting the tail to snuff out the momentum England had built up thanks to Moeen Ali.
Five wickets on his Test return showed Moeen's importance to England's side - following his 40 on day one - and he was excellent with the ball, accounting for India's middle and lower order in a fine spell of spin bowling.
Moeen's 5-63 had put England on the verge of an unlikely first-innings lead as India fell to 195-8, still 51 behind, but Pujara, Ishant Sharma (14) and Jasprit Bumrah (6) put on 78 for the final two wickets as the hosts toiled in the last hour.
Even the arrival of the new ball did not bring an immediate reward, Stuart Broad eventually removing Bumrah with India 27 ahead on 273.
Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings managed to survive a tricky four-over spell in the final throws of day two, but the pressure will be on both men to put the hosts - who trail by 21 - into a commanding position.
England's first-innings total of 246 seemed light at the end of the opening day but Broad began the fightback with two early wickets as KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan failed to build on their starts. Rahul (19) was trapped lbw by a delivery that speared into his pads, and 10 overs later Dhawan followed for 23 as Broad (3-63) lured him into a loose shot with an outswinger.
Pujara and Virat Kohli looked set to take the game away from the hosts with a 92-run partnership for the third wicket, both men making the most of loose deliveries from England's bowlers.
It took a superb delivery from Sam Curran (1-41) to turn the game back in England's favour, the all-rounder claiming the prized wicket of the captain for 46, Cook taking an excellent low catch at first slip.
That began a collapse that cost India a healthy lead, the visitors losing another five wickets for the addition of just 53 runs.
As the day happened:
This brings us to end of an exciting day's play. Moeen Ali's fifer was the highlight of England's bowling but Cheteshwar Pujara's unbeaten knock of 132 stole the show. See you tomorrow on Day 3. This is Avinash signing off for the day.
End of the day's play. England end the day's play at 6/0 after 4 overs as they trail India by 21 runs.
Another Great Test Match Pitch .. Exactly what TEST cricket needs .. #ENGvIND
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) August 31, 2018
Jasprit Bumrah bowls the second over.
Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings start England's innings and R Ashwin bowls the first over. 3 overs will be bowled today.
Virender Sehwag lauds Cheteshwar Pujara's superb innings.
There are some innings which give you a very different high. Pujara ‘s innings was one of those innings, will be long remembered. Added 78 with Ishant and Bumrah. India will need to bowl really well now pic.twitter.com/WwCJ6EO7Jp
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) August 31, 2018
All Out! India have been dismissed for 273 in their first innings and have managed to take a morale-boosting 27-runs lead. Cheteshwar Pujara, the lone warrior for India in this innings, played one of his finest innings and helped India cross England's first innings total. The cricketer carried his bat through as he remained unbeaten at 132. Jasprit Bumrah was the last Indian wicket to perish but only after stitching 46-run stand for the tenth wicket.
Narrow lead, but important in the context of the match as yet. Pujara’s classy century under pressure was the most redeeming aspect of India’s innings
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) August 31, 2018
First Test Century for Cheteshwar Pujara in England.
Cheteshwar Pujara...
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 31, 2018
15th Test 100
5th vs England
1st in England
5th away Test 100
1st in 2018
45th in fc cricket#EngvInd
Century! Cheteshwar Pujara completes his 15th Test hundred in what way. He's been the lone warrior for India in this innings and showed his class and maintained his composure as wickets kept perishing at the other end. Excellent knock from the batsman.
Cheteshwar Pujara has played gorgeously here. He's played 10% false shots - well below the series average of 16%, and is single-handedly keeping India in this Test match. #ENGvIND
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) August 31, 2018
Cheteshwar Pujara is batting on 97. Will he be able to complete his maiden century in England?
Wicket! And that's another five-wicket haul for Moeen Ali. Ishant Sharma has been caught at the forward short-leg and India are nine down. Moeen had picked up a fifer at this venue four years back and he's done it again.
On the scene of his first Test five-for, against India in 2014, Moeen Ali completes his fifth five-wicket haul! Congratulations! 🙌 #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/iBnSk9QfAB
— ICC (@ICC) August 31, 2018
India reach 215/8 after 67 overs and they still trail by 33 runs. The Indian batting has once again lost the plot thanks to a superb spell of spin bowling by Moeen Ali. Pant, Ashwin, Pandya and Shami all getting perfectly trapped in the trap of the off-spinner.
Oh @ashwinravi99 how could U of all the people think it was T-20..?!! But never mind U still have a lot to contribute..& there’s hell of a lot left in this Test..!!
— Bishan Bedi (@BishanBedi) August 31, 2018
Ishant Sharma is on strike against on the hat-trick delivery against Ali and denies him the hat-trick chance. India - 199/8.
Wicket & Wicket! First R Ashwin (1) and then Mohammed Shami (0) Moeen Ali gets two in two and he's got four wickets now. The off-spinner is once again wreaking havoc against the Indians. India 195/8 now.
Match resumes in the third session and India lose their sixth wicket almost immediately. Hardik Pandya is caught at short mid-wicket for 4 and Moeen Ali gets his second wicket. India are 189/6. England are in control at the moment and looks the tourists are going have a tough task reaching the 250 mark as well.
Wicket! Rishabh Pani is LBW for 0 and Moeen Ali gets England a wicket just before Tea break. India - 181/5 in 56.4 overs. England have dominated this session.
India are 169/4 after 53 overs. Runs have certainly dried up for the tourists since Rahane's dismissal. Pujara has hung on while Pant is yet to open his account. Pant has played 20+ balls but he's yet to get off the mark. England have clearly dominated the second session after Kohli walked back for 46.
Rahane's wicket was all about brave umpiring and fortune in Stokes' favour.
Was a brave umpiring call that......Stokes might be a bit lucky here. The benefit of doubt goes to the bowler but technology is there to take the doubt out of the review.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 31, 2018
Superb ball from Stokes to get Rahane.
The ball from Ben Stokes that dismissed Rahane swung 3.1° - only one delivery this afternoon has moved more through the air. #ENGvIND
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) August 31, 2018
Wicket! Ajinkya Rahane's stay at the crease comes to an end as he's caught plumb in front by Ben Stokes. The India vice-captain has been dismissed for 11 and he even wasted the remaining second DRS. India are 161/4 and Stokes has done the trick once again for the English.
150 comes up for India and they now trail England under 100. A lot depends on Pujara and Rahane now to post a big total from this stage.
Fifty! Cheteshwar Pujara completes his 19th Test half-century with a single. The celebration was a mooted one as Kohli had just perished.
FIFTY!
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 31, 2018
A well deserved half-century for @cheteshwar1. This is his 19th in Tests.
Live - https://t.co/0H7QgsePBK #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/mySUE1Qvlr
Wicket! Virat Kohli (46) edges Sam Curran and comfortably pouched by Alastair Cook at the first slip. He certainly missed out on a big knock here and Curran has been rewarded for his disciplined bowling.
🏏 WICKET 🏏
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 31, 2018
That's the big one for England and what a game Sam Curran is having! 🔥
Watch the fourth #EngvInd Test on Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event or follow: https://t.co/aHuLFdAV08 pic.twitter.com/eT6WtC3vdI
India reach 135/2 in 39 overs against England. Kohli and Pujara are playing well as they have stitched a partnership of 85 runs.
India batsmen have resumed innings in the second session. England bowlers are now looking to break this partnership between Kohli and Pujara as the tourists are scoring freely now.
Moeen Ali bowls the final over of the first session and India reach 100/2 in 31 overs. The have scored 81 runs and lost two wickets in this session. Kohli and Pujara have forged a fifty run-stand for the third wicket and recovered the tourists' innings after Rahul and Dhawan perished cheaply once again.
Moeen Ali for me is going to be tricky, with those footmarks, his pace n batters not too keen to sweep. #INDvENG
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) August 31, 2018
100 comes up for India in the 30th over. This brings up 50-run stand between Kohli and Pujara.
Joe Root has introduced spinners, Adil Rashid and Keaton Jennings, as the session nears its end.
Keaton Jennings bowling to Virat Kohli with 27-over old ball probably not in the pre-series planning #ENGvIND
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) August 31, 2018
6000 Runs for Virat Kohli in Test Cricket. Fastest Indians to 6000 Test Runs. Sunil Gavaskar - 117 innings VIRAT KOHLI - 119 innings Sachin Tendulkar - 120 innings Rahul Dravid - 125 innings
One of the many great things about Virat Kohli is that despite dominating in white ball cricket, he is among the most controlled players in red ball. Of those with 2'000 runs, Kohli's false shot percentage of 7.6% is bettered only by Sarwan, Dravid and Sangakkara. #ENGvIND
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) August 31, 2018
Wicket! Shikhar Dhawan nicks the outswining delivery from Broad and pays the price, caught behind for 23. The left-handed batsman once again failed to convert the hard work into a good score. This has been the story for Dhawan on the entire tour of England.
Fifty up for India in the 17th over at the expense of KL Rahul.
