India leveled the series on Sunday by defeating a resurgent England by 106 runs in the second Test at Visakhapatnam, thanks to outstanding bowling performances from Jasprit Bumrah and Ravichandran Ashwin. In the five-match series, India has drawn 1-1. With Ben Stokes as captain and Ben Foakes as wicketkeeper-batter, England began the second session at 194/6. English reached 200 runs in 46.1 overs thanks to a boundary from Foakes to Bumrah. However, England’s great partnership was cut short before it could begin. After just 11 runs in 29 balls due to some careless running between the wickets, captain Stokes was out. India was reduced to 220/7 thanks to Shreyas Iyer’s outstanding effort, which removed England’s crisis player.
Foakes was next joined by Tom Hartley, with England needing something great and supportive out of this young spinner with a first-class batting average of over 28.
Having troubled the Indian batters earlier, Hartley now irritated the Indian spinners with some occasional big hits.
England reached the 250-run mark in 59.5 overs.
A half-century partnership was up between Foakes and Hartley in just 63 balls and it seemed England could breathe a little.
In the next tense few minutes, Hartley survived a close leg-before-wicket call on a Ravichandran Ashwin delivery and Foakes threw his wicket with a soft dismissal, with the catch landing in Jasprit Bumrah’s hands, who got his second wicket.
Foakes was gone for 36 in 69 balls, with four boundaries and a six. England was 275/8, 124 runs away from a win but with just two wickets left.
After being caught behind by KS Bharat, pacer Mukesh Kumar removed debutant Shoaib Bashir for an eight-ball duck. England had one wicket remaining at 281/9, 118 runs short of victory. James Anderson had joined Hartley, and now everything depended on him. Taking the last wicket, Bumrah dismissed Hartley for 36. England lost by 106 runs after being bowled out for 292. Ashwin (3/72) and Bumrah (3/46) were India’s best bowlers. Each of Axar Patel, Mukesh, and Kuldeep Yadav took a wicket.
