England are trying to build a big first innings total at The Oval after being 198 for seven overnight – and Jos Buttler has put them well on their way.
Though relieved off the gloves for this Test, Buttler was at his normal free-flowing best on the second morning despite Adil Rashid’s early dismissal at the hands of Jasprit Bumrah.
To make matters worse for India, the usually rash Stuart Broad decided to stick around for a productive ninth-wicket partnership. But Ravindra Jadeja got Broad out for 38 before the Indian struck again to remove Buttler for 89 as England posted 332 in the first innings.
Later, Broad made an instant impact with the ball as he trapped Shikhar Dhawan for LBW with the Indian batsman contributing to just three runs.
Despite the dismissal, KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara rebuilt India’s innings with the tourists reaching 53-1 at tea.
India could only add 17 runs after the break after Sam Curran got his first wicket of the game when he bowled Rahul for 37.
James Anderson then dismissed Pujara for 37 after his inswinger was edged behind to Jonny Bairstow, leaving India with plenty to do.
Two overs later, Anderson got Ajinkya Rahane out for a duck with India 103-4 in 34 overs.
Ravi Shastri’s side managed to reach 150 but England got the prized wicket of Virat Kohli thanks to Ben Stokes. The batsman edged to second slip to fall one run short of his half-century.
Stokes struck again when he removed wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant for five after he was caught by Alastair Cook. India will resume play on Sunday on 174-6, still trailing by 158 runs.
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