ICC Test Championship 
Brief Scorecard at Stumps Day Two 
India VS England Paytm Test Series 
4th Test Played at Narendra Modi Stadium, Motera, Ahmedabad from 4-8 February 2021
Brief Score:
England 1st Innings 205 All Out (Ben Stokes 55, Dan Lawrence 46, Ollie Pope 29, Jonny Bairstow 28, Axar Patel 4/64, Ravichandra Ashwin 3/ 47, Mohammad Siraj 2/45)
India 1St Innings 294/7 in 94 Overs (Rishabh Pant 101, Washington Sundar 60* Rohit Sharma 49, Ajinka Rahane 27, Anderson 3/40Jack Leach 2/66, Ben Stokes 2/73) 
India leads by 89 Runs with 3 Wickets at Hand. 

On a wicket where odd balls were playing some tricks and two champion bowlers unique Anderson and exceptional Stokes were in true element young talent Rishabh pant displayed wonderful brand of aggressive batting. 

His strokeful 101 in 118 minutes inclusive of 13 gorgeous boundaries and two explosive sixes not only rescued India from tight leash (6/146) but also put them into command at stumps of day two. Fluent 113 runs 7th wicket partnership with Washington Sundar (60*) earned team India 89 runs lead with 3 wickets at hand. On a deteriorating wicket India perhaps already moved into comfort zone. England will have to play out of their skins to stay in this match. India is getting more and more assured of playing in the final of ICC Test Championship at Lords in June 2021.

Another feature of the match was exceptional bowling of ageing pacer James Anderson. His accuracy and measured movement against top Indian batsmen were to be seen to believe. He kept on bowling tight overs creating confusion in Indian tent. Stokes also took two important wicket. Him taking out Kohli off an exceptional delivery almost turned the match upside down. Pujara and Rahane also could not do much. At 6/146 India was looking like conceding a considerable lead. In came Pant and he had Washington Sundar with him. Pant could have gone adjudged LBW of a turning Leach delivery on DRS had not umpire ruled him not out. However, this is part of the game. Pant played some exceptional strokes and pulled team India out of tight corner. His aggressive batting encouraged Sundar. The pair produced match defining 123 runs 7th wicket partnership. Finally Pant fell to Anderson. Sundar remained unbeaten on 60. India leads by 89 runs. 

It is true that wicket is not flat. There is uneven bounce. Odd balls are turning and gripping. But there was no reason why top batsmen of both team had to stutter. Anyway, India has already taken control of the match and is looking favorite for winning the test and the series unless something dramatic happens. 

BDST: 1120 HRS, MAR 06, 2021
SMS