Anderson and Co. Destroy India under Gloomy Skies

The second Test at Lord’s was thought to be a comeback for India after their strong statement at Edgbaston, but it turned out to be a nightmare as they could muster only 107 at the cost of 10 wickets.

Cricket news: Anderson was the pick of the bowlers as he took 5 wickets

The rain has been persistent throughout and only 35.2 overs could be bowled in a total of two days. Keeping in mind about the conditions, England elected to field first after winning the toss.

Shikhar Dhawan was dropped from the team after his poor performance and KL Rahul was promoted up the order, as he and Murali Vijay opened the innings.

But it was not an auspicious day for both of them as James Anderson’s delivery shaped away and Vijay and knocked over his stumps. Rahul could not sustain the heat as he too fell to Anderson, nicking one ball to wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow.

Rain interrupted the innings and after it stopped Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara, who was also included in the squad, resumed the innings.

But Pujara soon had to return to the pavilion because of a horrendous mix-up with Kohli as debutant Ollie Pope completed the run-out.

After a brief spell of rain, Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane started stitching a partnership as their 35-runs stand made England panic a little.

But Chris Woakes, who had returned from his quad and knee injury, got Kohli’s outside edge and Jos Buttler completed the catch in the slip cordon.

Hardik Pandya started his innings with a couple of blazing boundaries, but soon found the outside edge and became Woakes second victim.

Dinesh Karthik was cleaned up by Sam Curran, as the Indian wicketkeeper’s poor form with the bat continues.

Rahane and Ravichandran Ashwin put on a partnership and scored 21 runs, but Anderson came back and took Rahane’s wicket, who scored 18 laborious runs in 44 deliveries.

Kuldeep Yadav was out in the next over as Anderson got his fourth wicket. Stuart Board also added to the wicket-taker’s list as he got Ashwin.

As India were being threatened to get out under 100 runs, Mohammed Shami came in as the No. 11 and scored quick 10 runs to get the score past 100.

But on the other hand Ishant Sharma fell to give Anderson a five-wicket haul, and with that came to an end an abysmal day for India while the Three Lions are truly on the driver’s seat.

Brief Scores

India: 107 all out in 35.2 overs; (Ravichandran Ashwin 29, Virat Kohli 23; James Anderson 5/20, Chris Woakes 2/19)