Birmingham, July 4 . Mohammed Siraj produced a devastating spell today evening to claim a six-wicket haul, bowling England out for 407 just before the close of play, and handing India a crucial 180-run first-innings lead in the second Test at Edgbaston.
By stumps on Day 3, India had advanced to 64 for 1 in 13 overs, extending their lead to 244 runs, with KL Rahul unbeaten on 28 and Karun Nair steady on 7.
Earlier in the day, a record-breaking sixth-wicket partnership between Jamie Smith and Harry Brook threatened to erase India’s early dominance. The pair resurrected England from 84 for 5 to 387, piling on 303 runs in a remarkable counterattack that saw the Indian bowling lose direction and composure.
Smith, displaying power and poise, hammered 184 off 207 balls with 21 boundaries and four sixes, while Brook crafted a classy 158 off 234 (17 fours, 1 six), showing remarkable temperament. Their 300-run partnership came off 364 balls, taking England to 355 for 5 by tea.
However, the post-tea session belonged entirely to India and Siraj. The breakthrough came in the 83rd over when Akash Deep bowled Brook with a sharp nip-backer, ending the massive stand. That dismissal opened the floodgates. Chris Woakes edged behind off a wide delivery from Akash
Deep, Brydon Carse fell LBW to a successful DRS taken by vice captain Rishabh Pant, and Josh Tongue was plumb LBW to a full Siraj delivery, bringing up the seamer’s fifth wicket.
Siraj finished the job in style, uprooting Shoaib Bashir’s off stump with a lethal wobble-seam ball that nipped in sharply, sealing England’s innings at 407. Siraj celebrated with his signature “CR7 Siuuu” leap, drawing cheers from the spectators.
Siraj’s final figures read 19.3-3-70-6, while Akash Deep finished with figures of 20-2-88-4. All other Indian bowlers remained wicketless and expensive through the middle overs, especially Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja, who were taken apart by the Smith-Brook assault.
India’s openers then launched a brisk reply under fading light. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rahul took advantage of loose bowling from Woakes, Carse, and Tongue, racing to 50 in just 45 balls. Jaiswal’s 28 off 22 balls (6 fours) ended controversially when he was adjudged LBW to Tongue. Although the timer for review appeared to expire, the umpires allowed it, and replays confirmed the ball was hitting leg stump.
Rahul, meanwhile, looked in sublime touch, caressing six
boundaries, including back-to-back off Woakes and Carse. Karun Nair, returning to the Test fold, also got underway with a boundary and remained unbeaten.
Brief Scores: India 1st innings: 587 all out in 151 overs; England 1st innings: 407 all out in 89.3 overs (Jamie Smith 184, Harry Brook 158; Mohammed Siraj 6/70, Akash Deep 4/88); India 2nd innings 64/1 in 13 overs (KL Rahul 28*, Karun Nair 7*)
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