India vs England Test match: Ranchi turns India’s way
Dhruv Jurel played out of his skin to 90 and whittled England’s first-innings lead down to only 46 and the spin ruled the roost. The sheer class of R Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav was too much to resist and England had their worst batting day of this series, collapsing from 110 for 3 to 145 all out, leaving India with a target of 192 on a tricky pitch.
When the day began, India were well behind the game, at 219 for 7 and staring at the real possibility of allowing England to take a sizeable lead.
But, Jurel was just what the team needed. Compact at the crease, correct in defence and yet wily enough to make use of any scoring opportunities that came his way, Jurel was well on the way to a maiden Test century when a beauty from Tom Hartley stopped him ten short of the feat.
Jurel had hit six fours and four sixes, but equally, chewed up 149 balls, showing that he could occupy the crease with confidence even while playing his shots.
England began confidently, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley looking to be positive. Rohit Sharma had told his players at the huddle that Ashwin and Jadeja would be opening the bowling and the offie virtually grabbed the ball.
When Ashwin picks up an early wicket it becomes very difficult to keep him down and this was the case on the day. Duckett played an unusually defensive prod and the inside edge went straight to Sarfaraz Khan under the helmet.
Ollie Pope went back to the first ball Ashwin sent to him and was trapped in front making it two wickets in two balls for the offie. Joe Root, looking to pick up from where he left off in the first innings, was watchful for a time but when he missed a sweep off Ashwin the Indians went up in a huge appeal.
