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England edge closer to stunning Second Test win against India thanks to 90mph speed king Mark Wood

, England edge closer to stunning Second Test win against India thanks to 90mph speed king Mark Wood

MARK WOOD was the 90mph speed king as England tried to conjure a dramatic victory in the Second Test.

Wood took three wickets, Moeen Ali two and Sam Curran dismissed Virat Kohli. England will believe they can force a win today (Mon).

Mark Wood celebrates taking the first of his wickets on day four
Wood took three wickets and got England off to a brilliant start at Lord’s

Durham fast bowler Wood was busting a gut as he charged in, trying to extract life from a pitch that had lost virtually all pace.

At times, it must have felt like hurling a sponge into a giant tub of butter.

But Wood’s three wickets show his range of skills – K.L.Rahul nicked off, Rohit Sharma was bounced out and Cheteshwar Pujara undone by a lifter.

Wood might have busted a shoulder, too, when he chased a ball, dived and rolled trying to prevent a boundary. He had some treatment and then left the field for extensive strapping on his right shoulder.

He tried to come back but, when the umpires said it was too dark for someone of his pace to bowl, Wood trotted off to the dressing-room. His shoulder is said to be sore and a decision will be made this morning whether he can bowl again.

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At the end of another gripping day of high emotion, India were 179-6 in their second innings and 154 runs ahead.

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England were denied for more than half the day by a stubborn partnership between Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.

They put on exactly 100 for the fourth wicket but three late wickets by England once more opened up the chance of a result.

England might have had more wickets if bad light had not stopped play 26 minutes early – even though the floodlights were on with spin bowlers Moeen and Joe Root operating.

Umpires Michael Gough and Richard Illingworth had already said it was too dark for England to bowl the quick men with the second new ball.

But Indian captain Kohli reckoned it was too dark for anybody to bowl and was waving, gesticulating and shouting on the team balcony.

Soon, the umpires agreed with Kohli and off trudged the players. Moeen later said England were happy to come off, too, because they were worried about Rishabh Pant smashing the spinners for a few runs.

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India were 27 behind on first innings and, when they lost two wickets before taking the lead, England really fancied their chances.

Rahul, who scored a century in the first innings, nicked off to Wood and then Sharma was lured into a sucker dismissal.

India’s opener pulled Wood into the crowd for six. But neither Root nor Wood was deterred and a third fielder was stationed on the boundary and Wood continued to bang in the ball short.

, England edge closer to stunning Second Test win against India thanks to 90mph speed king Mark Wood

Wood celebrates taking the key wicket of KL Rahul, who made a century in the first innings
, England edge closer to stunning Second Test win against India thanks to 90mph speed king Mark Wood
Jimmy Anderson and Virat Kohli had an altercation before the India captain was dismissed for 20

The trap certainly wasn’t subtle but Rohit still fell into it. He could not resist and pulled once more at a short delivery. It flew in the air and Moeen held a fine catch tumbling forward on the square leg boundary.

Jimmy Anderson started the day with a nine-over spell from the Pavilion End which was extended by a couple of overs to make sure he had a bowl at Kohli.

Their rivalry is fierce and full of mutual respect. But, occasionally, it spills over.

Anderson was no doubt still angry at having his head and body targeted by fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah on Saturday evening. One over lasted ten deliveries because Bumrah overstepped four times – which was decidedly dodgy as he tried to inflict pain and perhaps injury on England’s record-breaking bowler.

Anderson and Bumrah exchanged words as they left the field on the third evening.

And now Kohli – the captain who would have sanctioned Bumrah’s tactics – was given some words of wisdom. Kohli, naturally, responded.

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It didn’t last too long because Anderson was removed from the attack and then Kohli was dismissed by Curran.

The Surrey left-armer coaxed Kohli into playing at a widish ball and he nicked it. Curran set off, Imran Tahir-style, running manically in the general direction of Hampstead Heath.

Kohli has played ten Tests and 17 innings since his last century, averaging just 23.94.

Pujara took 35 balls to get off the mark – with a single to mid-wicket off Curran – and his first boundary did not arrive until his 118th delivery, a clip through square leg off Wood.

Pujara and Rahane showed patience and application – but not with sufficient scoring to take England out of the game. The afternoon session brought 49 runs from 28 overs without a wicket.

Eventually, Wood got a ball to jump to Pujara and the batsman could do no more than loop a catch to Root at first slip.

Rahane, dropped on 31 by Jonny Bairstow at point off Moeen, perished to the same bowler when he edged behind. The sixth wicket fell when Moeen bowled Ravi Jadeja.

, England edge closer to stunning Second Test win against India thanks to 90mph speed king Mark Wood

Kohli looked perplexed at play not being stopped despite the dwindling light

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