New Delhi: England openers made an ultra-aggressive start after folding India for 224 in an entertaining morning session on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test at the Oval, London. India could only add 22 runs to their overnight score of 204 as Karun Nair (57) and Washington Sundar (27), the last recognised batting pair, both returned to the pavillion within 20 minutes of the start of play.
The home side didn’t take long to get through India’s fragile tail, dismissing the visitors to a below-par total. The visitors lost four wickets for just 20 runs in the first 30 minutes of play.
In reply, English openers sent Indian bowlers on a leather hunt as Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett smashed the Indian pacers without mercy on a sunny morning.
Crwaley, Duckett punish Indian bowlers
Duckett (43 off 38) and Crawley (52 batting off 43) punished the Indian bowlers on the same track where Gus Atkinson took a superb five-wicket haul.
The hosts cruised to 109 for one in 16 overs at lunch, trailing India by 115 runs.
The trio of Akash Deep, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna were left clueless from the onslaught from the England openers.
Duckett’s wicket on the stroke of Lunch was the only respite for India in a disastrous session. The left-handed opener was caught behind attempting a reverse hit off Akash.
Meanwhile, Crawley hit five of his 12 fours off Siraj, including a straight drive, a punch through the covers and a flick towards mid-wicket. He completed his fifty with a four in the third man region off Akash, reaching the milestone in just 42 balls.
Duckett deliberately disturbed the pacers’ rhythm by dancing down the track at will, using the cut on the charge twice against Akash.
Ollie Pope joined Crawley after Duckett’s wicket and started off with a pair of glorious cover drives.