Second Test: India set 405-run target for England

India were bowled out for 204 against England in the second innings minutes before lunch, swelling their lead to 404 runs, on the penultimate day of the second Test match at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium here on Sunday.

Resuming the day at 98/3, Ajinkya Rahane (26) and skipper Virat Kohli (81) started the proceeding on a good note as they forged a crucial 77-run partnership for the fourth wicket before Rahane was sent back to the pavilion by pacer Stuart Broad in 39th over.

After the fall of wicket, lower-order batsmen -- Ravichandran Ashwin (7), stumper Wriddhiman Saha (2) and Ravindra Jadeja (14) -- could not add much to the score and went back to the pavilion one after the other.

In the end, Jayant Yadav (27 not out) and Mohammad Shami (19) added 42 vital runs for the last wicket to stretch India's overall lead.

For England, Broad and Adil Rashid scalped four wickets each while James Anderson and Moeen Ali took one wicket each.

Earlier on Saturday, India reached 98 for three in their second innings to take a 298-run lead at the end of the third day's play.

Kohli led from the front with an unbeaten 56, forging a 58-run fourth wicket stand with Ajinkya Rahane (22 not out).

Brief scores:

India 455 and 204 (Kohli 81; Broad 4-33) lead England 255 (Stokes 70; Ashwin 5-67) by 404 runs.

--IANS

gau/vt