England vs India 5th Test, Day 1, Review: Late strikes put India in the ascendancy

The visiting team made a stupendous comeback in the third session.

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Ravindra Jadeja
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Ravindra Jadeja of India celebrates with teammates. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

The fifth and final Test between India and England at Kennington Oval in London is nothing but a dead rubber. The match was inconsequential as far as the series is concerned and hence, Hanuma Vihari and Ravindra Jadeja were given an opportunity to wield their magic. Surprisingly, the Three Lions didn’t make any alterations and fielded the same eleven from the Southampton contest.

The match at Kennington Oval in London had significance for the reason that Alastair Cook took the field one final time in the series. The Indian team gave the Glouster-born cricketer a guard of honour. In the end, India would be happy for the reason that they restricted the Brits to 198/7 at the close of play on the first day owing to a splendid Indian bowling show in the final session.

Cook and Moeen put their heads down

Joe Root won the toss and decided to bat first. Moreover, he also won the toss against India five consecutive times. Keaton Jennings and Alastair Cook commenced proceedings for the home team. Both didn’t look in any sort of fuss and built a partnership of 60 runs from 139 deliveries. Just when it seemed as if India were running out of gas, Jadeja struck first blood.

The left-arm spinner got rid of Jennings for 23 runs. The batter tried to turn the ball down the leg-side only to find the safe hands of KL Rahul in leg slip. Moeen Ali was persisted with at number three and he joined Cook in the middle. The duo played the remaining five overs out and England ended the session with the score at 68 for the loss of one wicket in 28 overs.

The stand carries on   

Albeit India picked up Jennings’ wicket, the pre-lunch session went to the Three Lions. However, Cook and Jennings still had a fair amount of work to do in order to take the team to a commanding position. They didn’t lose their cool and put their heads down to carry on the good work they had done in the first session and they were able to do the same successfully.

The Poms scored 55 runs in the session in 31 overs as the batters didn’t play a single stroke out of anger. The Indian bowlers tried their hearts out, made the batsmen play, but all their efforts went in vain. At the end of the post-lunch session, the Brits scored 123 runs in 58 overs. In the meantime, Cook scored a masterful half-century and looked in impressive touch.

India make a comeback

The post-tea session didn’t start on an auspicious note for the hosts as Cook was nipped out by Bumrah. The pacer castled the batter with an in-dipper In the same over, the lanky speedster dismissed Joe Root and from a position of strength, they found themselves in a precarious position. Jonny Bairstow has been going through a rough patch ever since his finger injury.

His fortunes turned from bad to worse as he became Ishant Sharma’s first victim. Rishabh Pant picked up his first catch of the innings. Thereafter Ben Stokes and Ali buckled down, but Jadeja picked him up in the 78th over. Moeen eventually accomplished his half-century from 167 balls but was nipped out by Sharma. In the end, Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid staved off the final burst with the second new ball.

Brief Scores  

England: 198/7 in 90 overs; (Alastair Cook 71, Moeen Ali 50; Ishant Sharma 3/28, Jasprit Bumrah 2/41)

Close of Play: Day 1   

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