Caribbean Times 46th Issue - Tuesday 29th November 2016

16 c a r i b b e a n t i m e s . a g
Tuesday 29th November 2016
Ashwin rocks England after
India’s lower-order surge
MOHALI - India gave
a lesson in how to take a
grip on a Test match that
was in the balance. Firstly
their lower order built a
commanding lead of 134,
anchored around Ravindra
Jadeja’s career-best 90 and
Jayant Yadav’s maiden Test
fifty, then R Ashwin’s three
wickets left England floundering
on 78 for 4, still 56
behind.
The runs from the bottom
half of India’s order
has been a feature of their
recent Test success and here
they enjoyed one of their
more stellar days. In total,
the last four wickets added
213 to turn a precarious 204
for 6 into a three-figure advantage
and it was the first
time India’s Nos 7, 8 and 9
had scored half-centuries in
the same innings.
From a position at the
start of the day where England
would have hoped
for something near parity
- a manageable deficit of
around 50 at worst - by the
close it felt as though India
had made the definitive
moves of the series.
Joe Root, who had been
promoted to open in place
of the injured Haseeb Hameed,
remained unbeaten
on 36 but Ashwin’s dismissal
of Ben Stokes in the final
over capped a perfect day
for India.
Virat Kohli comes up with a silent celebration after Ben Stokes’ dismissal.
Alastair Cook’s stay was
tortuous. In the space of
four deliveries he survived
two close DRS calls. The
first was an India review
for an appeal given not out
against Jadeja which was,
eventually after some problems
forming the Hawk-Eye
graphics, shown to be missing
leg.
The second was after he
had been given lbw to Ashwin
only for the review to
show the ball pitched outside
leg. However, the reprieve
was brief as Ashwin
worked him over by sliding
a straighter delivery between
bat and pad.
Moeen Ali batted at No.
3, the only spot in the top
nine he had yet to occupy in
Tests, and added to the list
of England’s inglorious dismissals
in the match when
he chipped Ashwin to midon.
It was a lovely piece of
deception from the bowler,
who defeated Moeen in the
flight, but regardless it was
a limp shot.
Just as Root and Jonny
Bairstow were eyeing
the close, the latter fell to
a catch that, as a fellow
wicketkeeper, he would
acknowledge for its skill
as Parthiv Patel stayed low
to take a ball that skidding
through low to graze the
outside edge.
Virat Kohli then pulled
one of his Midas touches
when he recalled Ashwin
in the dying moments of
the session and, with his
first delivery, he spun one
past Stokes’ edge to take
the back pad. It was initially
given not out by Chris
Gaffaney but, with the seconds
ticking down, Kohli
reviewed and was justified.
India were 12 behind
when play resumed but England
made an insipid start
to the day. Chris Woakes’
opening delivery was a legstump
half volley which
Ashwin clipped to the
cont’d on pg 14