Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane frustrate England in Lord’s afternoon session

England are closing in on winning the second Test with India leading by just 154 runs ahead of the final day of the second Test at Lord’s.

India batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane frustrated England’s bowlers by hitting a 100-run partnership to help the tourists recover by the tea time on day four. 

But the duo were dismissed in the final session as well as Ravindra Jadeja – bowled by Moeen Ali – before bad light stopped play with the visitors 181 for six at the close of play. 

Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane frustrated England on day four at Lord’s

England went into the afternoon session in high spirits after Mark Wood removed both of India’s openers in the space of three overs before Sam Curran dismissed captain Virat Kohli for 20 right before lunch. 

But Pujara overcame a tense opening session to bring up a stand of 50 runs with Rahane to build India a lead of 78 in north west London.  

England managed to limit India to just 56-3 at lunch but a gritty batting display from the last of India’s top order saw the visitors add half a century to their run total in 29.1 overs. 

The pair’s display left England frustrated as Jimmy Anderson remains wicketless in these innings so far. 

Mark Wood got rid of both of India’s openers as England started strong on day four at Lord’s

Pujara went into tea on 29 runs from 148 deliveries in a patient display, after struggling in the morning session by failing to get off the mark until his 35th ball.

India managed to eclipse England’s slender lead of 27 before lunch but suffered a blow when KL Rahul nicked back Wood’s 94mph delivery to wicketkeeper Jos Buttler after nine overs. 

Three overs later and just as India had levelled the scores, Wood teased Rohit Sharma with consistent short balls which led to one falling gracefully into Moeen Alli’s arms by the boundary after just an hour’s play.

Rohit Sharma (left) and KL Rahul both fell to Wood’s fast bowling in an exciting first session

Sam Curran (left) then claimed a vital wicket in dismissing Virat Kohli to set Lord’s alight

And Sam Curran claimed a vital wicket in getting Virat Kohli out as India’s skipper edged behind on 20 to put England in firm control. 

Opener Rahul struggled with Anderson’s early pressure on Sunday morning, with the England veteran forcing three appeals, including a third for lbw which was umpire’s call not out for hitting the stumps, after Joe Root had sent the call upstairs. 

Root, meanwhile, had already taken Ollie Robinson out of the England bowling attack after just two overs and maiden, with Wood coming in to devastating effect as Rahul edged back a speedy arm over back to Buttler. 

As Rahul was ground down by England’s fast attack, Sharma maintained a strong opening rhythm and picked up two early boundaries – down the ground and through mid-wicket – before hitting his first six of the day off Wood’s short ball which brought the scores level.

India captain Kohli then walked for just 20 when he edged behind Curran’s ball to Buttler

That brought Rahane and Pujara together, with the former going on to make a half century

The 34-year-old then tried a similar shot as Wood carried on the short ball tactic later in the over, but the ball found Moeen Alli’s hands instead of the Sunday Lord’s crowd. 

Root kept up the pressure on India’s next batsmen, with Cheteshwar Pujara struggling to get off the mark with three slips and a gully watching on, though Virat Kohli managed to relieve some pressure on India with some early boundaries.

An injury concern forced Wood off the pitch temporarily which allowed Sam Curran to enter the bowling attack, who managed to get Kohli out to spark pandemonium in the Lord’s crowd to end a fantastic morning session for the hosts. 

But the duo lost their wicket in the evening session before Moeen Ali bowled Ravindra Jadeja

Mark Wood then suffered a shoulder injury after trying to stop four runs on the boundary