IndvsEng: Ashwin, Kohli take credits as India in commanding position

Visakhapatnam: India looks in command with a lead of 298 runs with seven wickets in hand in the 2nd innings of the second Test of the five-match series against England at Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium here on Saturday.

At stumps on day 3, India was 98 for 3 , all set to give a hefty target to England which may find it difficult to play fourth inning of the match on a slow turning wicket. Indian skipper Virat Kohli (56) and Rahane (22) were at the crease after India suffered some initials blows after refusing to follow on.

England needs to produce its best cricket to save the match , if not been able to win. Virat Kohli , after having scored 167 runs in the 1st inning, looked in his elements again in the second outing. India lost both the openers at the score of 17 and the third wicket of Pujara at 40 but some very positive stroke play by Kohli saw India back in the game in no time.

It was second time in the match when the openers failed for the side with Vijay (3) and Rahul (10) departing early. The new wall Pujara (1) was shocked after allowing Anderson's delivery go between pad and bat and touching stumps. Kohli is playing at 56 runs hitting six boundaries while Rahane has got off to good start scoring 22 runs.

Earlier, resuming the day 3 at 103/5, England batsmen Stokes and Bairstow stitched 110-run stand taking team's score par 200 runs. Stokes (70) was given leg before wicket to Ashwin while Bairstow (53) was bowled by Umesh Yadav. Later, Adil Rashid's unbeaten 32 runs helped England reach 255 runs. In India's bowling, Ashwin was the hero claiming five-wicket haul.

Taking a lead of 200 runs, India did not take follow on because to rest the bowlers and also to avoid playing fourth inning on the pitch which has uneven bounce and turn as well. The first session of day 4 will be crucial for both the teams as it will decide what target England gets in the last inning of the match.

Also read: The new ‘WALL’ of Indian Cricket: Cheteshwar Pujara