Second test: India in trouble, lost 7 wickets for 117 runs
Mumbai: India were struggling at 117 for seven in their second innings against England on the third day of the second Test at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.
India sliced through the England innings after Cook was dismissed. With their efforts, both Cook and Pietersen joined Walter Hammond, Colin Cowdrey and Geoff Boycott who hold the record for the maximum Test tons for England.
The duo’s double century-stand assumed more significance after the last eight English wickets fell for 139 runs. Ojha had figures of five for 143, his second fifer in as many Tests.
England lost their last four wickets in a heap, for the addition of just seven runs, once wicketkeeper Matt Prior was run out at 406.
Starting the day at 87, Cook reached his second hundred of the rubber following his marathon effort of 176 in the second innings of the opening game at Ahmedabad, while Pietersen notched his first of the series as England batted their way to within 29 runs of the home side’s first innings total of 327 when India broke the stand.
Ashwin brought an end to the double century partnership by sending back Cook and then Ojha claimed Bairstow, through a controversial catch, on the stroke of lunch to bring back the home team back into the picture after Cook and Pieternsen dominated the proceedings.
Bairstow was given out caught off the last ball though it struck the batsman’s hand, hit the grille of his helmet and bounced back into the fielder’s hands at silly point. The batsman walked off soon after Gambhir caught the ball on the second attempt.
