Ollie Pope the English saviour

London, September 3

Ollie Pope’s sublime 81 and important contributions by the tail put England in command on Day 2 of the fourth Test here on Friday.

England managed a healthy lead of 99 runs despite being reduced to 62/5 at one stage. By the time they were finally bowled out in the third session, the hosts had managed 290 in 84 overs. Chris Woakes was the last man out for 50 off 60 balls, run out in an attempt to keep the strike in order to protect No. 11 James Anderson.

At stumps, India had reached 43/0 in their second innings to reduce the deficit to 56 runs.

Pope, who came in at 54/4, had steered the team total to 250 when he was finally dismissed, bowled by Shardul Thakur for 81 off 159 balls, of which he hit six for fours.

The Indian pacers were unable to sustain the pressure on a pitch that seemed to be getting better for batting with each passing session.

England fightback

The first wicket in the second session came through Mohammad Siraj, who trapped Jonny Bairstow (37) with his stock ball, one that nips back, in the fifth over after lunch. This brought to an end an entertaining 89-run stand between Bairstow and Pope.

Pope then got together with Moeen Ali (35) to give England the upper hand. The two shared a 71-run stand and before a well-set Moeen played an awful slog-sweep off Ravindra Jadeja to throw his wicket away.

Jasprit Bumrah could have had Moeen LBW earlier but India did not review the on-field umpire’s decision.

Pope played some exquisite shots en route his sixth half-century. His drives on the up and the flick and pull shots were a treat to the eye.

Impressive Yadav

In the morning session, Umesh Yadav struck twice in the first hour of play before a counter-attacking stand between Bairstow and Pope took England to 139/4 at lunch. England scored 86 runs in the 25-over session.

Yadav, perennially in and out of the playing eleven and featuring in his first Test in nine months, was impressive in his opening spell after taking the prized wicket of Joe Root yesterday.

He got his 150th Test wicket in his first over of the day after nightwatchman Craig Overton slashed one hard right to Virat Kohli at first slip. — Agencies