Report
Chris Woakes leads England’s charge with ball, India under-par despite rapid fifty from Shardul Thakur
England 53 for 3 (Malan 26*, Bumrah 2-15) trail India 191 (Thakur 57, Kohli 50, Woakes 4-55, Robinson 3-38) by 138 runs
India were bowled out cheaply on the first day for the second Test in a row but retained a foothold after taking three England wickets in the late-afternoon sunshine at The Oval.
Chris Woakes – playing a first-class game for the first time since August 2020 after missing 11 Tests through isolation, rotation and injury – took four wickets and Ollie Robinson continued his fine summer with three, with England’s seamers relentless in reducing India to 127 for 7.
Most of India’s batters had made starts before being dismissed – Virat Kohli played fluently for 50 before falling to Robinson for the third consecutive Test – but Shardul Thakur‘s 57 off 36 balls changed the complexion of their innings. He teed off from No. 8 after being recalled to the side, and his half-century – the fastest recorded in a Test in England – gave India something to bowl at.
Full report to follow
Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98
Source: ESPN Crickinfo