Ahmedabad: A scintillating ton(101 off 118 balls)from Rishav Pant turned India’s fortunes as India ended on 249/7 on Day 2 of the fourth test ta the Narenda Modi Stadium on Friday(March 5). Washington Sundar (60)* who added a good support to the Delhi south paw are currently at the crease along with Axar Patel(11) with India taking a lead of 89 runs.
The men in Blue started the day with an overnight score of 24/1 hoping to build on a the good start. However, it was England’s bowlers who dominated the first two sessions of the day. Jack Leach trapped Cheteshwar Puja LBW for just 17 before skipper Virat Kohli got dismissed for a duck chasing wider delivery from Ben Stokes only to be caught by Ben Foakes.
Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane both looked good however the Englishmen got their reward for keeping it nice tight. James Anderson sent Rahane for 27 before lunch while Rohit followed his fellow Mumbai mate soon after falling in the trap of Stokes for a well made 49.
With 121/5 on the board, India needed a miracle to claw themselves back to the match. The two youngsters Pant and Sundar started the rebuilding process.
Initially they looked a bit pragmatic as the visitors were running havoc. As things settle down a bit, Rishav unlocked his attacking prowess smashing the England bowlers all-over park before bringing up his hundred in style hitting a six. Such was his audacity that he even nonchalantly reverse swept a certain Anderson for a boundary to enter the nervous nineties.
It was a calculative yet swashbuckling from the Delhi boy who coupled with Sundar added 113 runs from just 26 overs. The visitors had to toil hard to break the partnership. However, the damage was done already. Sundar too brought up his fifty soon after and along with Axar gave India a cushion to back themselves on Day 3.
