India vs England: Hardik Pandya leaves England reeling in Trent Bridge Test

The beauty of playing cricket in England is taking advantage of its fickle weather, and even for an Indian pace attack that has prided itself in consistently taking 20 wickets overseas, it was a Super Sunday in the third Test against England at Trent Bridge. (DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS)

Though India are playing in the second half of English summer, hot conditions in the build-up gave way to damp weather with rain and an overcast sky spicing it up for seamers, making batting a challenge and pushing matches forward at great speed.

At Lord’s, India looked particularly bad in their innings defeat as England pacers got to bowl in perfect conditions in both innings. At Trent Bridge, though Virat Kohli again lost the toss, India have shown great resilience despite being 0-2 down. And bowlers magnificently built on the steel shown by the batsmen.

India found a new hero in Hardik Pandya as pacers took all 10 wickets in a single, extended, afternoon session. It has left the visitors in a great position to push for victory and being their revival in the five-match series.

England were dismissed for 161 runs in 38.2 overs as Pandya ripped through the batting to grab his first five-wicket innings haul off just six overs (5/28), India showing that batting woes in seaming conditions were not exclusive to them.

India, who made 329 in their first innings before being all out 40 minutes into the rain-hit morning session, were 124/2 in their second innings at stumps on Day 2, a potentially match-winning lead of 292 runs. KL Rahul (36) and Shikhar Dhawan (44) gave another solid start, adding 60 in 11.2 overs, and Cheteshwar Pujara (33) and Kohli (8) were together.

India’s batsmen reaped the benefits of showing greater discipline after being asked to bat first by England skipper Joe Root. A good start led to Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane cashing in. India could add only 22 runs to their overnight score as they were 329 all out in 7.4 overs on a damp, overcast morning.

But, the shaky England batting unit was brought to its knees in one of the finest demonstrations of consistent seam bowling by an Indian team. There was no inkling of what was to come as Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah were not consistent and let England reach 46/0 at lunch.

ISHANT LEADS

But Ishant Sharma demonstrated the value of bowling a fuller length and getting the ball to swing and seam. Alastair Cook was dropped by Pujara as Rishabh Pant dived in front of him, but he nicked again two balls later to give the debutant, 20-year-old stumper, the first of his five catches. Ollie Pope was caught down the leg by a composed Pant to make it 82/3 when

Pandya was brought on.

He got England skipper Joe Root to nick his first delivery. KL Rahul’s first of three slip catches were reviewed repeatedly before being ruled good. There on, Pandya ripped through England’s credentials that its batting runs deep.

Once Pandya got the aggressive Jonny Bairstow with his best wicket-taking delivery – perfectly angled in and seaming away to draw the nick – England were gasping.

He caught Chris Woakes by surprise, much like the all-rounder had to get Cheteshwar Pujara in the first innings. He short, rising ball nicked to Pant showed India were executing their bowling plans perfectly, after the batting lessons had been put to great use on the first day.

Jos Buttler smashed Shami for a six and two fours in one over as he was left to bat with last man James Anderson, until Jasprit Bumrah had him caught with a miscue to wide mid-on. England had lost five wickets for 20 runs, with the last six wickets falling for 63 runs.