Virat Kohli fought his way to a second successive half-century in this series but was powerless to prevent England chipping away to ascendancy after two sessions of the Oval Test yesterday.
The Indian Captain produced a mini exhibition of cover driving before Ollie Robinson proved to be his scourge for the third time in the series.
At Tea on the opening day, India, having been put into bat, were reduced to 122 for six.
In many ways, the fate of the second session hinged on the Indian Captain after England’s seamers had snuffed out the opposition’s Top-3 before lunch.
The move to have Ravindra Jadeja bat at No.5 and provide an angular challenge for the metronomic attack didn’t pay off as the excellent Chris Woakes had the all-rounder nicking a ball from the blind spot that the over-the-wicket angle creates.
Joe Root held on to the catch at first-slip this time around, having reprieved Kohli in the previous over off the same bowler when the Indian Captain poked at a delivery on the seventh stump.
Chief scores
India: 122/6 at tea (Virat Kohli 50, Chris Woakes 2/19, Ollie Robinson 2/24) vs England. (Agencies)
by Daily News Sri Lanka
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