England make strong start after India's 148

Tags: India tour of England, 2014, England Vs India, 5th Test at London - Aug 15-19, 2014, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Christopher James Jordan, Christopher Roger Woakes

Published on: Aug 15, 2014

Scorecard | Commentary | Graphs

England have made a strong start of 62 for no loss in 19 overs by stumps on the first day’s play at The Oval

By BV Swagath

Update at Stumps on Day 1: England have made a strong start of 62 for no loss in 19 overs by stumps on the first day’s play at The Oval. Alastair Cook who is on 24* is lucky to be still there despite being plumb in front to a full length inswinger from Bhuvneshwar Kumar. His partner Sam Robson has helped himself to 33 not out. The hosts will look to pile up a big first innings total on the second day and then try to inflict another innings defeat to India.

India all out: Skipper MS Dhoni missed out on a well deserved century for the second time in a row but alongside last man Ishant Sharma managed to take India to a much respectable total of 148. MS Dhoni himself scored 82 out of that small total with the help of 15 fours and a six while battling it out for 140 balls. His last wicket stand with Ishant was worth 58 and the end came when Dhoni pulled Broad into the hands of long leg.

Update at Tea on Day 1: MS Dhoni’s one man show has taken India past three figures and at Tea, the visitors are 129 for 9. Dhoni is unbeaten on a fighting 65 and has received solid support from Ishant Sharma. The last wicket stand has added 35 runs so far in about 11 overs which ironically is the best partnership of the innings!

The first wicket in the post lunch session went down when Stuart Binny finally got to edge Anderson to the slips. R Ashwin and Bhuvneshwar Kumar for once failed to get going. Ashwin was edged out to gully on the backfoot by Woakes while Bhuvneshwar chased a wide one from Jordan with a cut and bottom edged it to the keeper. Varun Aaron was bounced out by Woakes leaving India at 90 for 9 in the 45th over.

Update at Lunch on Day 1: India has already slipped into a disastrous position of losing the final Test with a morning session score of 43 for 5 in 25 overs. Things are once again looking very bleak for the tourists although there is a tiny hope of a rescue act coming from the pair of MS Dhoni (6*) and Stuart Binny (4*).

It has been a dream session for England with all the four bowlers coming to the party. Just the two boundaries have been conceded by the English bowlers!

India’s troubles began very early with Gambhir falling for a first ball duck in only the first over of the Test match when he left an Anderson outswinger very late to bottom edge it to the keeper. Pujara was bowled by Broad through the gate with one that nipped back. Virat Kohli was adjudged lbw after he dangerously offered no shot to an inducker from Jordan.

Man in form – Ajinkya Rahane was out for a duck as he looked to push one on the up with a straight bat but only to give a return catch to Jordan. Opener Murali Vijay batted for almost 19 overs before he perished, nicking an away going seamer from Chris Woakes.

Toss and Teams: England have won the toss and asked India to bat first in overcast conditions. The hosts go in with the same team that played in the last Test. India have made two changes with Stuart Binny and Ishant Sharma replacing Ravindra Jadeja and Pankaj Singh.

Update: The start of the fifth and final Test at The Oval in London has been delayed due to a wet outfield. There has been heavy rain this morning at London but the delay is expected to be at the most 30 minutes. Conditions remain to be cloudy with a possibility of a shower anytime.

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