England’s captain, Ben Stokes, showcased extraordinary fielding skills on Day 3 of the second Test against India, making a spectacular backward-running catch to dismiss Shreyas Iyer, who had been batting impressively, attempted a lofted shot against spinner Tom Hartley, but the mistimed shot sent the ball towards the long-off boundary. Stokes, positioned at mid-off, sprinted approximately 25 yards, executing a perfect dive to complete a seemingly impossible catch.
The dismissal was unfortunate for Iyer, known for his proficiency against spin, and it marked the first time he took on the spinner in the second innings. Ironically, in the first innings, Iyer had taken a similar catch at backward point to dismiss Zak Crawley for 76.
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Shreyas Iyer’s struggles in Test cricket persist, with inconsistent performances in his recent outings – scores of 31, 6, 0, 4*, 35, 13, and 29 in his last seven innings. Despite his recent struggles, Iyer’s innings on the third day displayed confidence, effective strike rotation, and defensive solidity. Unfortunately, he couldn’t convert the promising innings into a substantial score, reflecting another missed opportunity.
A screamer 🤯 from Stokes sends back Shreyas Iyer!#INDvENG #BazBowled #IDFCFirstBankTestsSeries #JioCinemaSports pic.twitter.com/nEbPLX88w3
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) February 4, 2024
India began Day 3 at 28/0 but lost the wickets of Rohit Sharma (13) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (17) quickly. James Anderson dismissed Rohit Sharma with a delivery shaping away, while Jaiswal’s edge found Joe Root at slips. Shubman Gill and Iyer then formed a partnership, adding 81 runs for the third wicket and thwarting England’s attempts to create early pressure.
Shubman Gill reached a much-needed half-century, displaying aggressive intent, while Iyer appeared composed but couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity.
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Jasprit Bumrah had earlier bowled a remarkable spell on Day 2, helping India bowl out England for 253 after posting 396 in the first innings. Bumrah’s six-wicket haul marked his 10th five-wicket haul in Test cricket, contributing significantly to India’s dominance in the match.
