By England captain Joe Root scored his second century of the series and Ollie Robinson added a valuable fifty as England ended day two of the fourth Test against India in Ranchi on 402 for 8, a lead of 100 runs.
Root, who resumed the day on 106 not out, continued his masterclass of batting in India, as he played with patience, skill, and determination. He faced 318 balls and hit 11 fours and a six, becoming the first England captain to score two hundreds in a Test series in India. He also became the third-highest run-scorer for England in Tests, surpassing Graham Gooch.
Root shared a crucial 121-run partnership with Robinson, who scored his maiden Test fifty in his second match. Robinson showed great composure and technique, as he defended solidly and attacked confidently. He hit seven fours and two sixes in his 81-ball knock, before falling to Mohammed Siraj for 63.
India’s Bowlers Struggle to Break Through
India’s bowlers struggled to find the right line and length, as they failed to create enough pressure on the England batsmen. Akash Deep, who took three wickets on day one, could not add to his tally, as he bowled too short and wide. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who shared 59 overs between them, could not extract much turn or bounce from the pitch, as they managed only one wicket each.
Siraj was the most successful bowler for India, as he took three wickets, including the important ones of Robinson and Ben Foakes. He bowled with pace and aggression, and troubled the batsmen with his reverse swing and bouncers. He also dismissed Jack Hartley for 13, as he ended the day with figures of 3 for 85.
England’s Tail Wags
England’s lower order showed some fight, as they added valuable runs to extend the lead. Foakes, who scored 47 in the first innings, made 22 before edging Siraj to the keeper. Hartley, who made his debut in this match, scored 13 before being caught behind off Siraj. Kuldeep Yadav, who was playing his first Test in two years, finally got his first wicket, as he trapped Yashasvi Jaiswal lbw for 6.
However, England’s last pair of James Anderson and Stuart Broad frustrated India, as they batted out the last 10 overs of the day. Anderson, who is known for his bowling rather than his batting, showed some defiance, as he remained unbeaten on 14. Broad, who has a Test fifty to his name, was not out on 9. The duo added 23 runs for the ninth wicket, as England reached stumps with a lead of 100 runs.