Bhuvneshwar removes England openers early

London, July 18 :

Pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar removed England openers Alastair Cook and Sam Robson early to allow India still enjoy a lead of 244 runs at lunch on the second day of the second cricket Test at Lord’s here Friday.

Bhuvneshwar turned on the heat with some fine bowling to trouble the England batsmen on a green top.
Cook’s poor run with the bat continued as he managed just 10 runs before edging an accurate delivery from Bhuvneshwar that was well taken by Mahendra Singh Dhoni behind the stumps. It has been over a year since Cook passed the three-figure mark and has scored just 93 runs in his last six Test innings.

Robson (17) was lucky to get a life in the previous over from Mohammed Shami when Ajinkya Rahane dropped a simple chance at second slip. But the English batsman failed to capitalise on the chance as Dhoni took a simple chance giving Bhuvneshwar a second wicket in what was a good first spell and England were left struggling at 31 for two.

Ballance (7 batting) and Bell (11 batting) then ensured that England took lunch at 51 for two without further loss.

Earlier, India could add just five runs to their overnight score before they were bundled out for 295 runs in the first innings.

Ben Stokes (2/40) struck in the second over of the day to get rid of overnight batsman and last wicket Mohammed Shami (19), who was caught at second slip by England skipper Cook. Ishant Sharma was unbeaten on 12.

(IANS)