ENG vs IND, 2nd Test Live Score Updates: KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma aim for strong start in second innings

15:24 (IST)

Update: Good news as the drizzle has stopped, and the covers are off! We should get an on-time start. 

15:11 (IST)

Let's hope the drizzle goes away soon! 

And it is drizzling!!!

— Ashish Magotra (@clutchplay) August 15, 2021

15:00 (IST)

“Little overcast here. Forecast is improving. As we get going here, it is a bit gloomy, but I don’t think there will be any rain. It might just suit the bowlers in the first session. There may be a little bit more turn. It’s still going to be a pretty good batting wicket today, and going into tomorrow,” said cricketer-turned-commentator Nick Knight in a chat on the Sony Sports Network ahead of the day’s play.

14:49 (IST)

On the occasion of India's 74th Independence Day, Firstpost Sports brings to you some of India's greatest sporting achievements, including the complete domination of hockey in early to mid-20th century, the historic triumph in the 1983 Prudential World Cup that forever changed Indian cricket as well as the nation's marked improvement at the Olympics in the last two decades.

Read: From 1983 Cricket World Cup to Neeraj Chopra's Olympic gold, India's greatest sporting achievements

14:38 (IST)

Talking points from Day 3

Day 3 got over with England getting bowled out for 391 and taking 27 runs leads. Joe Root remained unbeaten on 180 as Indian bowlers struggled to breach his defence. And while Ishant Sharma toiled for long, he eventually found his rhythm to remove Jos Buttler, Moeen Ali and  Sam Curran. But other Indian pacers had an ordinary day. 

From Root's brilliance to bottle cork being thrown at KL Rahul, Shubham Pandey brings you the biggest talking points from yesterday's play. Click here to read.

14:29 (IST)

Happy Independence Day! 

Welcome to our LIVE coverage on Day 4 of the second Test between India and England. The Lord's Test is nicely poised with England currently leading by 27 runs at the end of the first two innings. Indian openers — KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma — will begin India's second innings on Day 4. And with the middle-order struggling, the team management will be hoping for another good show from the openers. Stay tuned for more updates...

ENG vs IND, 2nd Test Day 4 Live Cricket Score Updates: Indian openers — KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma — will begin India's second innings on Day 4 with the visitors trailing by 27 runs. With the middle-order struggling, the team management will be hoping for another good show from the openers as the game hangs in balance.

Day 3 report: England captain Joe Root's commanding 180 not out, his second successive Test hundred and fifth this year, guided the hosts into a slender first-innings lead against India at Lord's on Saturday.

Root hardly erred during a near nine-hour stay at the crease in the second Test that was the cornerstone of England's 391 -- 27 runs ahead of an India first-innings 364 where KL Rahul made 129 and fellow opener Rohit Sharma 83.

The England skipper faced 321 balls, with 18 fours, before James Anderson was bowled by Mohammed Shami off the last ball of the third day's play.

Root, with innings of 64 and 109, had been the only England batsman to pass fifty in last week's rain-marred drawn first Test of this five-match series at Trent Bridge.

On Saturday, however, he was ably assisted in a fourth-wicket partnership of 121 by Jonny Bairstow until his Yorkshire team-mate gave his innings away on 57.

"Obviously, Joe will be feeling pretty good," said Bairstow. "What a day for him. To pass 9,000 (Test) runs and score 180 not out at the 'home of cricket' is an amazing achievement. I've run out of superlatives, to be honest."

- 'Fire in our bellies' -
England great Anderson, who took 5-62 in India's first innings, was repeatedly peppered by short balls before his dismissal and appeared to share some heated words with Virat Kohli, the tourists' captain, when they walked off.

"We can come with fire in our bellies tomorrow," said Bairstow. "When Jimmy Anderson comes to bowl on Sunday, he'll be ready."

England resumed on 119-3, a deficit of 245, and were again left looking to star batsman Root, 48 not out overnight.

At 23-2, Root had walked in to bat with England having lost their second wicket before reaching 50 for the 15th time in 19 Test innings this year.

Mohammed Siraj had done the damage, removing Dom Sibley and Haseeb Hameed, out for a first-ball nought, with successive deliveries on his way to 4-94 in 30 overs.

Root, however, square-drove Siraj for a stylish four to complete an 82-ball fifty.

Bairstow, six not out overnight, struck commanding straight-driven fours off Shami and Siraj en route to a 90-ball fifty.

England were 216-3 at lunch, having not lost a wicket in the morning session.

But just before the new ball, Bairstow carelessly fell into an obvious hooking trap, gloving an attempted pull off a short ball from Siraj to Kohli in the slips.

Siraj marked all his wickets with a finger to the lips gesture he insisted was not aimed at the departing batsmen.

"The celebration is for the haters who said a lot about me: that I can't do this, I can't do that," said Siraj, 27, playing in just his seventh Test. "So I wanted to show them only with the ball and that is the reason for this celebration."

Root's quick single off Jasprit Bumrah rook him to a 200-ball hundred, his fourth in Tests at Lord's.

This was Root's fifth Test century this year, with scores of 228 and 186 in Sri Lanka and 218 against India in Chennai preceding last week's effort in Nottingham.

His 22nd Test hundred also saw Root equal Walter Hammond, Colin Cowdrey, Geoffrey Boycott and Ian Bell, with only Kevin Pietersen (23) and Alastair Cook (33) having scored more Test centuries for England.

It was an all the more creditable innings given the ongoing strains imposed by Covid-19, with Root having to cope with the absence of all-rounder Ben Stokes, due to mental health issues, and fast bowler Jofra Archer, ruled out for the year with an elbow injury.

Recalled paceman Ishant Sharma checked England's progress with three middle-order wickets, bowling Jos Buttler with an excellent inswinger before Moeen Ali and Sam Curran were caught in the slips off successive deliveries during a return of 3-69 in 24 overs.

No 11 Anderson was hit on the helmet by a Bumrah bouncer during an over featuring four no-balls.

Root then hit two successive fours off Siraj — an audacious reverse ramp over the cordon followed by a slog past deep square leg capping his 11th Test innings of over 150 as the 30-year-old Root became only the second England batsman, after Cook, to pass 9,000 Test runs.

Here's all you need to know about the second Test between England and India:

When will the second India vs England Test be played?

The second England vs India Test will be played from Thursday, 12 August, 2021.

Where will the second India vs England Test be played?

The second Test between England and India will be played at Lord's in London.

What time will the second India vs England Test begin?

The second Test between England and India will begin at 3.30 pm IST. The toss is set to take place at 3 pm.

How can I watch the India vs England Test match?

You can watch the second England vs India Test on Sony Six/ Sony Six HD, Sony Ten 3/ Sony Ten 3 HD, with LIVE streaming on Sony LIV. You can also follow our LIVE blog on firstpost.com for scores and updates.

With inputs from AFP

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