The Indian cricket team only added 29 runs to their overnight score before the hosts were bowled out for 329 in their first innings on Day 2 of the second Test against England at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.
Interestingly, the England bowlers didn't concede a single extra in 95.5 overs as they broke a 66-year-old record in Test cricket. India’s 329 is now the highest total without conceding a single extra to the innings. The previous highest Test innings total without extras was 328 - by India (bowling team) v Pakistan at Bagh-e-Jinnah Stadium, Lahore in 1955.
India 329 all-out.
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) February 14, 2021
World Record: Most runs in a Test innings without conceding an extra! #INDvENG https://t.co/dYRVTivgdd
Highest Test totals not including an extra:
- 329 Ind vs Eng Chennai 2020/21
- 328 Pak vs Ind Lahore 1954/55
- 252 SA vs Eng Durban 1930/31
- 247 SA vs Eng Nottingham 1960
Resuming the second day at 300/6, India got off to a terrible start as they lost debutant Axar Patel (5) in just the second over of the day as England off-spinner Moeen Ali had him stumped at the hands of wicketkeeper Ben Foakes. In the very same over, Ali scalped the wicket of Ishant Sharma for a duck and as a result, India were reduced to 301/8.
Meanwhile, India’s swashbuckling wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant smashed a few sixes to register his fourth fifty in four innings. India lost the remaining wickets of Kuldeep Yadav (0) and Mohammed Siraj (4) as Pant remained unbeaten on 58.
Earlier on the first day of the second Test, India opener Rohit Sharma had scored a counter-attacking 161 while Ajinkya Rahane contributed with 67 as the hosts ended the day at 300/6.
For the visitors, Ali was the wrecker-in-chief as he recorded 4/128 in the 29 overs he bowled during the course of the Indian innings. Pacer Olly Stone claimed three wickets while left arm-spinner Jack Leach picked two wickets.
Joe Root-led England had defeated India by 227 runs in the first Test at the same venue to take a 1-0 lead in the four-match series.
Feature image courtesy: Twitter/ICC
