Seasoned campaigners R Ashwin and Ishant Sharma breathed fire as India took a massive step towards victory in the opening Test against England here on Friday.
After Ashwin (3/34), bowling an exceptionally well non-stop spell in the morning session, prised out Keaton Jennings and skipper Joe Root, a charged up Ishant (3/34) sent back Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes to leave England reeling at 86/6 at lunch on day two. With England just 99 runs ahead, India will be hoping to clean up the lower order as soon as possible and complete a stunning victory inside three days.
Kohli chose to start Ashwin with the new ball and the off-spinner excelled for a third day in a row. He kept bowling a probing line to Jennings especially, his trajectory from around the wicket constantly troubling the left-hander. The young opener finally perished when he prodded forward, the ball spinning away and taking the edge. KL Rahul completed a fine catch as India drew first blood in just the fourth over of the day.
Another left-hander Malan walked in but he too struggled against Ashwin, hardly able to read the off-spinner. He tried to counter-attack in between but he knew it was fraught with danger. The constant pressure from Ashwin forced Root into playing a poor shot that cost his wicket. Despite two fielders at leg-slip, he tried flicking and Rahul took another fine catch as England were reduced to 39/3.
The strong England middle-order then had the onerous task of staging a fightback but they succumbed to the brilliance of Ishant. The seamer first sent back Malan with a peach that broke a 21-run partnership. The out-swinger squared Malan up and the thick outside edge was easily taken by Ajinkya Rahane at gully.
Ishant then scalped two more in a space of three balls at the stroke of lunch to put India in a commanding position. He first induced an edge off Bairstow with another top quality ball before dismissing Stokes with a peach.
Brief scores: England: 287 & 86/6 (Bairstow 28; Ashwin 3-34, Ishant Sharma 3-21) vs India: 274.
