England battling hard to save second Test against India

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 04 February 2024

England produce a resilient display on day three of the second Test against India to give themselves a chance of another famous comeback in Visakhapatnam.

England require a further 332 runs to win the second Test against India after showing character during the third day's play in Visakhapatnam.

With India resuming with a 171-run lead and 10 wickets intact, there was scope for the home side to put the game beyond the reach of their opponents.

However, England defied a Shubman Gill century to bowl India out for 255, before reaching 67-1 at the close of play having been set a target of 399.

Ben Stokes's side remain clear outsiders to pull off a second successive fightback, particularly on a deteriorating pitch where numerous cracks will only widen as the game progresses.

Nevertheless, their display on Sunday has given them hope, with Tom Hartley the pick of the bowlers with 4-77 but only after James Anderson (2-29) had set the ball rolling during the early stages.

Rehan Ahmed 🤝 Ben Foakes

Foakes makes it look easy 👏#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/wbsXjJVk0c
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) February 4, 2024

Gill's 89-run fifth-wicket partnership with Axar Patel (45) threatened to take the contest away from England, with the former's knock of 104 from 147 balls featuring 11 fours and two maximums.

With Rehan Ahmed (3-88) also getting in on the act, though, England were able to dismiss India for 255 before the end of the day, albeit giving them 14 tricky overs to negotiate before stumps.

Ben Duckett departed for 28 off 27 deliveries, Ravichandran Ashwin taking the wicket, but Zak Crawley (29*) stood tall alongside night-watchman Ahmed (9*) to take England to 67-1, providing them with a sniff of a victory that would arguably eclipse the success in Hyderabad.