The China Mail - Rahul and Pant extend India's lead over England in second Test

India were 177-3 in their second innings at lunch on the fourth day, a healthy -- if not yet decisive -- lead of 357 runs.

India captain Shubman Gill, fresh from his commanding 269 in the first innings, was unbeaten on 24 and Pant was a typically dynamic 41 not out, having faced just 35 balls including five fours and two sixes.

India resumed on 64-1, a lead of 244 runs, after dismissing England for 407 in reply to their first-innings 567 despite a partnership of over 300 runs between Jamie Smith (184 not out) and Harry Brook (158).

England chased down an imposing target of 371 to win the first Test of this series at Headingley. At Edgbaston three years ago, they achieved their all-time record fourth-innings victory pursuit,making 378 against India.

KL Rahul, 28 not out overnight, was soon into his stride with a cover-driven four off Brydon Carse.

But with play starting Saturday under grey skies -- and the floodlights switched on -- the overhead conditions were in favour of the bowlers.

Fast bowler Carse was rewarded for a fine spell when Karun Nair, on 26 edged a full-length ball that straightened, with wicketkeeper Smith, moving smartly to his right, holding a sharp catch that left India 96-2.

Rahul's stylish off-driven three off Josh Tongue took the opener to a 78-ball fifty, including nine fours.

Rahul fell for 55 when he was clean bowled by a fine full-length delivery from fast bowler Tongue that flattened middle stump.

India were still well-placed at 130-3 as the dynamic Pant came in. Off just his fourth ball the left-hander charged down the pitch to drive Tongue for a magnificent straight six.

Pant was reprieved on 10 when he tried to launch Stokes over the in-field only for Zak Crawley to drop a routine two-handed catch at mid-off.

The Indian wicketkeeper, who scored hundreds in both innings of India's five-wicket loss in the first Test at Headingley, pulled off-spinner Shoaib Bashir's second ball Saturday for four and swept the fourth for another boundary.

But Pant, lost control of his bat completely, throwing it to square leg, when he attempted a huge heave across the line at Tongue.

The very next ball Pant, on 31, was dropped again when he mistimed a flick off Tongue, with a diving Chris Woakes, running in from square leg, just unable to cling onto the low catch.

jdg/pb

P.Ho--ThChM