India vs England, 1st Test: Key takeaways from Day 2
The England cricket team dominated the proceedings on Day 2 of the first Test against India at the Chepauk Stadium. England resumed Day 2 on 263/3 and managed to post 555/8 at stumps. The Indians had a long day as Joe Root smashed a brilliant double-century - his fifth in Test cricket. Here are the key takeaways.
Root dazzles for England on Day 2
Resuming on 128*, Root smashed his maiden double-century against India. The scores of his last four Test 100s read: 226, 228, 186, 218. Notably, Root became the 15th foreigner to hit a double-ton in India and the first to do so since Brendon McCullum (225 in 2010). The England skipper looked ominous and played sensibly to get to a significant milestone in Test cricket.
Stokes plays a valiant knock
Ben Stokes played a significant knock, scoring 82 from 118 balls at a strike rate of 69.49. Stokes, who was dropped by R Ashwin, made the Indians pay with an aggressive knock. He smashed 10 fours and three sixes. Stokes looked comfortable against the Indian bowlers and also surpassed the 1,000-run mark against Team India. His 124-run stand alongside Root deflated the hosts.
India bowl 19 no balls in the first innings
Team India was sloppy on the field for the second successive day and dropped catches. The hosts bowled a whopping 19 no balls as well in the first innings. Shahbaz Nadeem and Jasprit Bumrah led the way with six no balls each. Ishant (5) and Ashwin (2) were in the mix as well. England dominated the Indian bowlers, who were inconsistent and leaked runs.
England up the ante to finish strongly
Besides Root and Stokes, the likes of Ollie Pope (34), Jos Buttler (30), and Dominic Bess (28*) played crucial knocks to help England get past the 550-run mark. They hit 13 fours between them.
India manage to claim five wickets on a long day
The brilliance of Root and Stokes helped England start strongly and the latter mistimed a shot to be dismissed by Nadeem. Root and Pope added 86 runs for the fifth wicket, before India got them both. Ashwin and Nadeem got the respective wickets. As Buttler tried to counter, Ishant was finally rewarded as he got two wickets. Washington Sundar remained wicketless as Bumrah misfired.
