Twitter Reactions: Relentless bowlers keep India on top on an attritional day of Test cricket

What an attritional day of Test cricket it was! Though England scored only a tick over two runs an over, nobody could take their eyes off the action. In the end, it was the visitors who finished the day with a smile on their faces thanks to some exceptional bowling by them. The four-man attack never let the hosts off the hook at any moment in the day and they reaped rewards in the final session of the day.

It all started with Alastair Cook‘s wicket who, after playing superbly for 189 balls, chopped a brute of a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah and this is where India started to take control of the proceedings. In the same over, Joe Root was undone with an incoming delivery and things changed dramatically. Jonny Bairstow has somehow lost his touch with the bat and bagged his third duck in fourth innings. Ben Stokes also went into the defensive mode and in the process gave away his wicket to Ravindra Jadeja who was impeccable with his lines.

Meanwhile, Moeen Ali, who came in to bat at number three, played a strange knock but dug in the middle to bring up his slowest Test half-century. He reached fifty off his 167th delivery to give the team something to cheer. But after so many plays and misses off Mohammed Shami, he was eventually snaffled by Ishant Sharma who was simply relentless throughout the day.

The hero of the series with the bat for the Brits, Sam Curran, amazingly was dismissed in the same over for a second-ball duck as Indians erupted in joy. But Adil Rashid and Jos Buttler then survived nervy moments in the end as England finished at 198/7 after 90 overs. While all the bowlers were exceptional on the day, Ishant Sharma was the best as he returned with the figures of 22-10-28-3.

What happened earlier?

Earlier in the day, Joe Root won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first once again on a flat pitch. India also gave a guard of honour for Alastair Cook who is playing his last Test match. The opening duo of England stitched a fifty-run stand for the first time in the series. It was Jadeja who broke the stand in the 24th over though as Keaton Jennings was caught in the leg-slip for 23.

The post-lunch session saw India bowling the probing lines continuously and literally never lost their line and length to keep the batsmen on the tenterhooks. They also dropped both Cook and Ali which made them go into Tea break without a wicket. But they had conceded only 54 runs in the second session of a massive 31 overs. The game was drifting away from them though with England sitting pretty at 131/1. But then Bumrah broke through and the relentless bowlers pounced on strangely defensive batsmen.

Here’s how Twitter reacted during the course of the day:

Great 1st day for India 🇮🇳 well done @ImIshant @MdShami11 @Jaspritbumrah93 and great job jaddu @imjadeja absolutely brilliant.. keep up the good work guys 🔥 @BCCI vs @ECB_cricket 5th Test

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) September 7, 2018

This bowling display today has been outstanding ……. as good as it gets on a decent Batting pitch ……. the Batting on the other hand ……. #OnOn. #ENDvIND

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) September 7, 2018

From 133/1 to 181/7….gotta love the way lIndian fast bowling has, time and again, brought the team right back into the game. #EngvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 7, 2018

Just checking the test at the oval,so often you score at less than 3 runs an over you do more harm then good. You end up going nowhere. #ENGvIND

— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) September 7, 2018

Why do I feel that Bumrah run up is a bit short? #ENGvIND

— Dean Jones (@ProfDeano) September 7, 2018

‘Slow day for England as India’s toil gets rewarded’ – Cook very impressive today and great to see Moen Ali fight hard. This Indian attack is impressive – good swing, good pace and good accuracy! #ENDvIND

— Nick Compton (@thecompdog) September 7, 2018

Today’s England performance another painful reminder for India as to how great an opportunity they have missed to win an overseas series. #ENDvIND

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) September 7, 2018

U beauty Mr sharma @ImIshant what a spell 🇮🇳👏👏👏⭐️ #EngvInd

— Rahul Sharma (@ImRahulSharma3) September 7, 2018

India have bowled very well, but England have lacked decisive intent with their footwork and stroke play. Up to middle order to dig them out of hole. #ENDvIND

— Tom Moody (@TomMoodyCricket) September 7, 2018

Mohammed Shami with one of the best nought-fers going…

— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) September 7, 2018

A horrible final session, which ends with a screaming yorker. #ENGvIND

— Asif Khan (@_asif) September 7, 2018

26 maiden out of 65 overs bowled by #Seamers ,#brilliant #ENGvIND

— Mr. Sadh™ (@IamSadh) September 7, 2018

Once again our bowlers been sensational!! If only our batting has performed little better we would be leading 3-1 instead of trailing 3-1!! #ENGvIND

— Tahith Chong FC (@zhashank) September 7, 2018

Bowling card was superb.
One of the best finish on day 1
Ishant Sharma 22-10-28-3#ENGvIND

— aNUP mAHAPAtRA (@am_i_anup) September 7, 2018

Shikhar Dhawan doing bhangra at third man… shows how upbeat this Indian team is despite losing the series……..!!! #ENGvIND

— Ur-wish (@uvi_devil2003) September 7, 2018

Ironically, @ImIshant has been the find of this tour. #ENGvIND

— Archit Agarwal (@ImARCHIT01) September 7, 2018

Great dancing there @BumbleCricket was that celebrating the fact that we actually got 90 overs bowled in one day?! #ENGvIND

— DazlaWBAWCCC (@DazlaPrice) September 7, 2018

Mind boggling performance by India on this wicket. I repeat mind boggling, and just as poor by England with the bat. Never tried to transfer any pressure back.

— Abhishek (@Sajjanlaunda) September 7, 2018

Eventually India's day. Dramatic post-tea session

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 7, 2018

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