Woakes and Bairstow deliver killer blow to India

A 189-run partnership between Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes took England from a precarious position to complete dominance in the second Test against India.

England resumed needing just 108 runs to establish a first innings lead but Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma started well to keep the hosts under pressure.

Keaton Jennings (11) was first to go trapped leg before by Shami and he would burn a review on a poor referral to boot.

Alastair Cook (21) was quite attacking in contrast to skipper Joe Root (19) who looked to dull the swinging ball early on.

Bairstow came to the wicket at 77 for 3 and began the rescue job in trying circumstances with Root and Jos Buttler (24).

Scorecard

The arrival of Woakes at the crease began the process of England seizing complete control of the Test as the technically correct allrounder began to get on top of the bowlers.

Woakes overtook Bairstow and added his name to the Lord’s batting honours board with his maiden Test hundred to go with his bowling efforts at the venue in seasons gone by.

The ball stopped swinging as the day wore on and England built an imposing lead until a moment of brilliance from Dinesh Karthik sent Bairstow packing for 93 with the hosts on 320 for 6.

Sam Curran (22*) came out with clear intent to get on with things with England keen to move the match forward with more bad weather around for the remaining two days.

England ended the day on 357 for 6 when bad light stopped play late on day three.

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