4th Test: Pant, Sundar guide Indiato 89-run lead at Stumps, Day 2

A quick fire century from wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant along with an unbeaten fifty from all-rounder Washington Sundar guided India to a 89-run lead against England at Stumps, Day 2 of the fourth and final Test on Friday. The match is being played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. 

Starting the day at 24/1, India found themselves in a spot of bother after losing Test specialist Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Virat Kohli in quick succession. Vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane was also dismissed as he sought to rebuild the innings with opener Rohit Sharma, with the hosts struggling at 80/4.

Pant walked in next and stitched a 113-run partnership with Sundar as he brought en route to his third Test century, which was also his first on home soil. 

Also Read | Kieron Pollard hits 6 sixes in an over: List of batsmen to have achieved the feat

Having scored 13 boundaries and two sixes, the second of which brought up his ton, Pant smashed a James Anderson delivery straight to Joe Root at mid-wicket for a simple catch. 

Sundar soldiered on from there, notching his third Test fifty to help India establish a handy first-innings lead.

Earlier, England’s Ben Stokes claimed two key wickets, including skipper Kohli, as India struggled to 153 for six at Tea. 

Fast bowler Anderson, who became only the third pacer to take 900 international wickets, and spinner Jack Leach also took two wickets each.

Stokes got Rohit Sharma, who resumed the day on eight, caught behind for 49.

Pujara (17) was adjudged LBW to Jack Leach, while Kohli failed to open his account and edged a Ben Stokes delivery to Ben Foakes behind the stumps. 

On the first day of the Test at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi stadium, Indian spin trio of Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin and Washington Sundar took eight wickets between them as England’s batting failed again.

The visitors were dismissed for 205 after captain Joe Root won the toss and elected to bat at the world’s biggest cricket venue. India, leading 2-1 in the series, had won the third Test at the same venue within 2 days.

Wickets again fell thick and fast and Ben Stokes’ 55 held England’s score together.

Also read: Mohammed Siraj says Ben Stokes was swearing at him, Virat Kohli ‘handled’ the situation

“We will look back on that be disappointed by some of the batting, we’re more than capable of scoring more than 300 on a wicket like that,” said Stokes.