LONDON (AP) — India off-spinner Washington Sundar bowled Joe Root and Jamie Smith and reduced England to 175-6 in its second innings at tea on day four Sunday of the Lord’s test.
Captain Ben Stokes was unbeaten on 27 with Chris Woakes on 8 and England was leading by 175 runs.
Sundar had 2-13 from seven overs.
Sundar’s double strike regained momentum for India after Root and Stokes were edging England toward a defendable target on a difficult pitch. Most observers believe a 250 target would be tough for India to chase down.
England resumed after lunch on 98-4 and the afternoon session produced just 77 runs in 27 overs, and Stokes and Woakes scored the only three boundaries.
Root and Stokes took England past 100 and 150 but without any comfort.
Root moved from 16 at lunch to 40 without scoring a boundary in the afternoon, and survived an lbw appeal on 36 on umpire’s call. Bowler Mohammed Siraj yelled in frustration.
But four runs later and less than a half-hour from tea, Root tried to sweep Sundar and England’s best batter was bowled around his pads.
Root, who made 104 in the first innings, was out for 40 off 96 balls.
Sundar then bowled Smith’s off stump on 8.
India’s attack was hamstrung after lunch when pacer Akash Deep hobbled off the field. He eventually returned but didn’t bowl.
Dhruv Jurel continued to keep wicket in the absence of Rishabh Pant and conceded 24 byes from six boundaries up to tea. The 31 extras were the second highest score in England’s total.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
Foster Niumata, The Associated Press
