Jaiswal edges India ahead after bowlers stand up to Bazball start

Siraj and Prasidh rein in England after the visitors were 224 all out. India were 75/2 at stumps on Day 2

- Somshuvra Laha

We have Test cricket and then we havea sensory overload like this.

For a good hour or so, one had to pinch and check if India and England were playing the same format at the Kennington Oval. Deciding that there ‘was no point respecting the conditions or India’s bowling, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley plundered 92 runs in 12.5 overs at Bazball pace till Duckett was undone by his urge to improvise. That sparked a scintillating comeback as Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna combined, taking four wickets each after ‘Akash Deep provided the first breakthrough.

A timely and quick fifty from Harry Brook helped England eke out a valuable 23-run lead that India shaved off in under five overs before adding more. It wasn't a phase without a few moments of scare though. KL Rahul was dismissed early, edging Josh Tongue to Joe Root at slip. Yashasvi Jaiswal - motoring on 51 off 49 balls - was nearly caught at slip by Gus Atkinson before Liam Dawson dropped a dolly at long leg.

Later, Sai Sudharsan was shockingly dropped by Crawley at third slip. Sudharsan wasn't as lucky the next time as Atkinson trapped him leg before. At stumps, India were 75/2, sitting ona52-run lead with eight wickets in hand.