Rahul, Patel start off confidently as hosts end Day 2 at 60 for no loss
CHENNAI: England’s lowerorder gave India a taste of their own medicine on a benign Chepauk track racking up a commendable 477 in their first innings on the second day of the fifth and final cricket Test here. In reply, the hosts made a solid start blending caution with aggression to reach 60 for no loss in 20 overs after Rahul, undefeated on 30 in company of Patel (29 batting), came in to open for an injured Vijay. With not much assistance from the track for the bowlers, the Sunday crowd can expect a run feast as more than the bowling effort, it is the mistake from the batsmen that can get a bowling side wickets. Just like the Indian lowermiddle order and the tail which has wagged throughout the home season so far, it was England’s turn to return the favour as the last three wickets put on 156 runs with the visitors once again reaching close to 500-run mark. The highlight of the second day was a 108-run stand for the eighth wicket between debutant Dawson (60) and Rashid (66) after England lost three wickets in the opening session to be reduced to 321 for 7, starting the day on 288 for 4. The dismissals included centurion Moeen Ali (146), again out trying to pull a short delivery from Umesh Yadav (2/73), while Ben Stokes (6) became local hero Ravichandran Ashwin’s (1/ 151) 248th Test victim. Buttler (5) was dismissed by Ishant (2/42) and England were in danger of getting all out for 350. But Dawson and Rashid were up for the challenge and the lack of bite in the pitch also helped their cause as they carried out a repair job. The 108 runs were added in 41.3 overs. Dawson’s maiden halfcentury came off 148 balls with five fours and a six while Rashid’s was an even more patient effort with 8 fours in 155 balls. While Ashwin had one of the worst figures in the ongoing series, the effort wasn’t lacking but with no apparent help from the track, it was not difficult to play a defensive game that the Nos 8 and 9 played. Both the batsmen have a reputation of being useful batsmen in county cricket. With England’s lower-order frustrating the Indians, the home team got around 20 overs for the day and both the openers did not try anything extravagant during the last hour of play. Rahul, who has paid the price for his aggressive strokeplay, which has not exactly yielded great returns in the past few Test matches was more alert with his strokeplay. He faced 68 balls and hit only three boundaries. Rahul also showed better application against the new ball bowlers Stuart Broad (6 runs in 5 overs) and Jake Ball (0/9 in 3 overs) as he was ready to wait for the loose deliveries. He got a couple of boundaries off Ben Stokes’ bowling — a cover drive and one through the point boundary. He also came down the track to hit Rashid through the cover region. Parthiv, who had a good comeback match in Mohali also curbed his natural aggression hitting on only two boundaries in 52 balls. Earlier, when England batted, Rashid was the senior partner and played a pivotal role in the partnership by sticking around, Dawson, on debut, showed some excellent batting skills and temperament considering that England were 0-3 down in the five-match series. (PTI)