BSP-14 Kohli holds firm for India after Broad double strike

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Kohli holds firm for India after Broad double strike

SOUTHAMPTON, United Kingdom, Aug 31, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Virat Kohli passed 6,000 Test runs on Friday as he again proved a thorn in England’s side.

India were 100 for two in reply to England’s first-innings 246, a deficit of 146 runs, at lunch on the second day of the fourth Test at Southampton.

Cheteshwar Pujara was 28 not out and India captain Kohli unbeaten on 25.

The pair had added exactly 50 runs in their unbroken partnership after Stuart Broad removed openers KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan on his way to lunch figures of two for 34 in 10 overs.

Kohli, the world’s top-ranked Test batsman, scored exactly 200 runs in India’s 203-run victory in the third Test at Trent Bridge, a result that reduced England’s lead in the five-match series to 2-1, having managed the same feat in the first Test at Edgbaston.

England captain Joe Root deployed six bowlers in a bid to dismiss his opposite number but, significantly, Ben Stokes was not among them, with the hosts rejigging their side in a bid to compensate for the pace-bowling all-rounder’s knee injury.

By scoring 6,000 Test runs in 119 innings, Kohli became the second quickest India batsman to the landmark after former opener Sunil Gavaskar (117). All-time great Sachin Tendulkar got there in 120 innings.

India resumed Friday on 19 without loss.

Excellent swing and seam bowling, led by Jasprit Bumrah (three for 46) helped India make the most of helpful new-ball conditions as they reduced England to 86 for six on Thursday after Root won the toss.

But the recalled Sam Curran, who made a fine 78, revived England after their latest in a long line of batting collapses.

James Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, started Friday’s play needing six more wickets to equal retired Australia great Glenn McGrath’s mark of 563 — the most taken by any fast bowler at this level.

But it was Broad who made the breakthrough when he had Rahul lbw for 19, with Sri Lankan umpire Kumar Dharmasena’s decision upheld on review.

And 37 for one became 50 for two when Broad drew left-hander Dhawan (23) forward and diving wicket-keeper Jos Buttler took a good low two-handed catch.

Kohli’s duels with Anderson have been a feature of the series and the India star frustrated the England great with a textbook cover-drive for four.

Occasional medium-pacer Keaton Jennings, as well as spinners Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali, all bowled before lunch but Pujara and Kohli held firm.

BSS/AFP/MMA/1840HRS