Established 1961 15 Sports Wednesday, August 18, 2021 Kohli elated after ‘late Independence Day’ win England LONDON: India captain promised there England captain Joe Root made a superb 180 not would no let-up from his side following an impres- out in the first innings — his fifth Test century this sive 151-run win over England in the second Test at year — and top-scored again for his side with 33 on Lord’s on Monday he labeled a “day late” Monday before falling to the third ball after tea. And Independence celebration. an England team without missing all-rounders Ben This match was in the balance early on the final Stokes and , as well as injured quicks day before a ninth- stand of 89 between and , offered only limited (56 ) and resistance in the absence of yet another major con- (34 not out), both of whom made their highest Test tribution from Root. scores, allowed Kohli to declare India’s second India, however, overcame a raft of injuries and the innings on 298-8. absence of star batsman Kohli on paternity leave to That left England chasing a target of 272 but, with win a Test series in Australia this year. England have taking 4-32 and fellow paceman now gone seven Tests without a win — a sequence Bumrah 3-33, they slumped to 120 all out. Victory, that includes a campaign loss in India. which left Kohli’s men 1-0 up in this five-match series, came just a day after India’s Independence ‘No hiding’ Day on August 15 and the tourists enjoyed plenty of And Root, perhaps somewhat harshly, blamed vocal support at Lord’s. himself for England’s lack of tactical discipline with “We fed off that energy,” said Kohli. “It’s a day the ball on Monday after his pacemen repeatedly late celebration for Independence Day. It’s the best bowled too short at Shami and Bumrah. “As captain, feeling we can give the Indians here and back in you take responsibility,” he said. “I don’t think I India.” “We have three matches to go and we will be coped with that partnership well enough... Maybe just as intense,” added Kohli, looking to lead India to we could have looked at attacking the stumps a lit- LONDON: India’s captain Virat Kohli (third right) celebrates with India’s (second left) and team- just a fourth Test series win in England after suc- tle bit more frequently, using the short ball as more mates after the successful appeal for the wicket of England’s on the fifth and final day of the cesses in 1971, 1986 and 2007. of a surprise.” second Test match between England and India at Lord’s cricket ground in London on Monday. — AFP Reflecting on what was just India’s third win in 19 Yet for all their failings in the field, out the Tests at the ‘home of cricket’, Kohli said: “I feel 60 overs remaining on a placid pitch to secure a Rory Burns and Dom Sibley the first England open- home ground, for a third Test starting super proud of the whole team. The pitch didn’t second successive draw this series following a rain- ing pair to both be out for nought in a home Test on August 25, with the England skipper insisting: offer much in the first three days. “The way we marred first Test at Nottingham’s innings. “I don’t think there’s any hiding from it, we “There’s still a lot of cricket to be played in this played this morning with Mohammed Shami and should not have been beyond England. do need to get better,” said Root. “We need to score series. More than anything we just need to stay Jasprit Burmah with the bat was important. We Batting collapses, however, have become an all- heavier. But the guys all know that, they’re working calm and not try to panic and make sure we’re in believed we could get them out in 60 overs and the too common feature of their recent red-ball cricket extremely hard.” a really good frame of mind when we turn up to bowlers were outstanding.” outfit and there were four ducks on Monday, with The teams now head to Headingley, Root’s Leeds.” — AFP India savors ‘fantastic’ India-Pakistan set Lord’s victory for October 24 clash NEW : Former cricketers and national in T20 World Cup media yesterday lauded India’s thrashing of England in the second Test at Lord’s with fast bowlers com- NEW DELHI: Fierce rivals India and Pakistan ing in for special praise. Indian quicks including will clash on October 24 at this year’s Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed World Cup, the International Cricket Siraj and Ishant Sharma shared 10 between Council said yesterday as the delayed tourna- them to bundle out England for 120 in the final ses- ment’s fixtures were announced. The 16-nation sion on Monday’s fifth day to go 1-0 up in the five- LONDON: England’s captain Joe Root (fifth right) plays a shot past India’s (fourth left) on the tournament — to be held in the United Arab match series. fifth and final day of the second cricket Test match between England and India at Lord’s cricket ground in Emirates and Oman — will begin on October But it was an unbeaten ninth-wicket stand of 89 London on Monday. —AFP 17 with Oman taking on Papua New Guinea in between Shami, who hit a career-best 56, and Bumrah, the opener followed by an evening match who made 34, that swung the momentum back in witnessed some on-field verbal exchanges between Enjoyed watching every moment of it. The resilience between Scotland and in round one India’s favour after they were struggling on 209-8. the two sides. Opener KL Rahul was named man of and grit that the team displayed in difficult situa- of the competition. “Fantastic win for india...what character and guts the match for his 129 in India’s first-innings total of tions is something that stood out for me. Very well The top two teams from both group A and from the team ..each and every one ..such a pleasure 364 after being invited to bat first by England skip- played!,” cricket icon said. Batting group B in the first round will advance to the to watch it from so close,” India’s cricket chief per Joe Root. England responded with 391 riding great VVS Laxman said: “What an incredible day of so-called Super 12 stage, where the game’s , who was in London for the match, Root’s unbeaten 180. India declared their second Test Match Cricket and one to remember for a long heavyweight nations join the tournament. wrote on Twitter. The Indian Express headlined its innings on 298-8 early in the second session on day time for every Indian Fan. “Bumrah and Shami fight- Australia will play South Africa and holders report “India sledge hammer England” while The five and the new-ball bowlers Bumrah and Shami ing with the bat early in the day, and pace attack of West Indies meet England in Group 1 matches Times Of India said, “India Believe In The Lord’s!”. struck early to corner England. Siraj, Ishant, Bumrah, Shami giving it their all and on October 23 at the start of the Super 12, Virat Kohli’s side won by 151 runs in a match that “That was some Test match #TeamIndia! India registering a sensational win.” — AFP which will eventually decide the four semi- finalists. But the spotlight will be on the Group 2 England’s most high-profile stars. India-Pakistan contest in Dubai, with the two Silverwood rules Silverwood said it was a case of waiting for rival nations only meeting in multi-nation Stokes to approach him as to when he feels ready to events due to tensions over Kashmir, a dis- return to the fray. Aside from the India series, puted Himalayan territory. The two Asian out asking Stokes England face a hectic winter schedule. giants last met at the 2019 50-over World They have two T20 matches in Pakistan in Cup in England, where India won — main- to return from October, the T20 World Cup-which is being held in taining their unbeaten record against Pakistan the United Arab Enmirates and Oman-the five-Test in World Cups. Ashes series in Australia and a three-Test series in England, the 2009 winners, will take on mental health break the West Indies. “No, there is no pushing from my Australia in another key clash on October 30 in point of view,” said Silverwood. “I don’t think you Dubai. The tournament, which will be hosted by LONDON: England will not pressure talismanic can push with these issues. I will wait and there will all-rounder to cut short his mental LONDON: England’s captain Joe Root (left) talks with the Board of Control for Cricket in India be an element of waiting for him to come to me to England’s Ollie Robinson between deliveries on the (BCCI), was originally meant to take place in health break and help them try and get back on lev- let me know he is ready.” fifth and final day of the second cricket Test match Australia at the end of 2020. el terms with India in their ongoing Test series said Stokes missed England’s Test series loss to New between England and India at Lord’s cricket ground But it was called off as the coronavirus pan- head coach Chris Silverwood yesterday. Zealand in June due to injury, but returned to cap- in London on Monday. —AFP demic swept across the globe. It was meant to Silverwood was speaking the day after India tain the one-day team to a 3-0 series win over pulled off a thrilling win in the second Test at Lord’s be held in India this year, but was moved to the Pakistan last month. Silverwood said the decision United Arab Emirates and Oman after the to go 1-0 up in the five match series. Stokes has to lie with Stokes and his family as to when he okay, his family is okay and that he comes back announced at the end of July he was taking “an strong and, when he re-enters the frame, he is ready South Asian giant was hit by a massive surge in feels he is good to go again. virus cases in April and May. — AFP indefinite break from all cricket with immediate “There is no time limit on it,” said Silverwood. “I in his mind to come back and perform for England effect” because of the stress of his role as one of would stress again the important thing is Ben is like we know he can. — AFP