The Indian batters faced a tricky time dealing with Shoaib Bashir’s spin bowling on the second day of the fourth Test against England in Ranchi. After the Ben Stokes-led England team put up a challenging 353-run total, Indian batters were found wanting in negating the challenge. Apart from Yashasvi Jaiswal none of the other top-order batters could score big. After the first four wickets fell, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan stitched a gritty stand.
Sarfaraz Khan made a good debut in the third Test, scoring half-centuries in both the innings. In the debut innings, while batting on 62 he was run out after a mix-up with Ravindra Jadeja. On Saturday too, Sarfaraz Khan had a run out scare. During one of the overs by Shoaib Bashir, Sarfaraz Khan was in two minds with Yashasvi Jaiswal. He dived outstretched and was saved by the narrowest of margins.
THIS IS A MIRACLE!
NOTHING SHORT OF A MIRACLE!
We know #Sarfaraz, he’s going to make the best of this opportunity!
#INDvsENG #TestCricket #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/eyXBEox6lR
— Stump Talk (@Stumptalktous) February 24, 2024
Earlier, Youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal batted with supreme confidence to compile yet another fifty but England off-spinner Shoaib Bashir’s triple strike reduced India to 131 for four at tea on day two of the fourth Test. Jaiswal hit five boundaries and a six on way to his unbeaten on 54 off 96 deliveries, his fourth fifty-plus score in seven innings this series, which includes two double hundreds.
While Jaiswal stood firm, India kept losing wickets to Shoaib Bashir (3/32) at the other end with Shubman Gill (38), Rajat Patidar (17) and Ravindra Jadeja (12) falling in addition of just 44 runs.
England were bowled out for 353 in the opening session with Joe Root standing tall with an unbeaten 122 as the visitors showed tremendous recovery from being reduced to 112/5 at one stage on the opening day.
In reply, India lost skipper Rohit Sharma (2) cheaply inside the third over when old warhorse James Anderson produced a superb delivery that moved away slightly off the surface after pitching on a perfect length.
After a watchful start, Gill acclerated in the post-lunch session, taking on Anderson with two elegant boundaries — one flick off the pads, and a punch straight back down the ground.
But the young off-spinner Bashir, who came in place of Rehan Ahmed, provided the breakthrough for England, breaking the fine 82-run alliance between Gill and Jaiswal.
He delivered a ball that took off from the crack just outside off stump, trapped Gill on the pad as Indians reviewed unsuccessfully.
Jaiswal also survived a scare on 40 when he edged one to Ben Foakes, who took a forward diving catch but replays confirmed that the ball had bounce on the ground before going into his glove.
Jaiswal then used his feet to Robinson, and even danced down the track to launch Bashir over long-on for a maximum.
Patidar played a nervous innings before getting out for 17, while Jadeja again batting at No 5 got out for 12 at the stroke of tea.
With PTI inputs
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