England vs India as it happened: Alastair Cook falls at the last after Virat Kohli's brilliant century
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Virat Kohli's masterclass century defied England and dragged India back into the contest on a gripping second day of the first Specsavers Test at Edgbaston.
Sam Curran (four for 74) made a sterling home bid for the headlines, with three wickets in eight balls during a titanic first hour of the afternoon - and England were well-served too by Ben Stokes and James Anderson.
But Kohli (149) was an unstoppable force - after two dropped chances - as he banished memories of his miserable maiden Test tour to this country four years ago - when he averaged 13.4, with a top-score of 39 - as he compiled his 22nd Test century in an India total of 274 which contained no other innings above 26.
Kohli's one-man show meant a home lead of only 13 after the tourists' last two wickets added 92 - and when Alastair Cook was bowled for the second day in succession by a Ravi Ashwin off-break, for a duck this time, England reached stumps nine for one second time round.
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↵Here are some moving pictures to go with our words from that session.
Kohli has reached his 50 now and he is going along nicely as Anderson finishes his latest over. How costly will those dropped catches be in the grand scheme of this Test? Sam Curran, who is having a stormer so far, is next up to try and make sure those dropped catches aren't the defining moments. Incidentally, he will be the youngest ever Englishman to get a five-for if he gets another.
Ed Malyon opines:
I think it would be great if Kohli got to his century but England skittled India for within 30-40 runs of their own total. The first two days of this Test match are setting us up for a brilliant series and the Indian skipper starting off with a ton despite having struggled against Anderson would be a fine sub-plot to rumble on through August.
Anderson is up again and bowling at Kohli. Big shouts from England, big enough to convince Root to review it... The umpire said not out, and so does Hawkeye. The ball going down leg and Kohli was never in any real danger.
But Ashwin is not as lucky! Anderson has toiled today and he smacks the bails off the wicket and off goes Ashwin for 10!
It was always gonna be a humdinger - and while Kohli has undoubtedly been on the back foot, as long as he's still there he is winning:
Shami is next in at the crease for the departing Ashwin and survives the rest of the over. Kohli is getting into his stride here now, which is worrying for England. He finishes Curran's next over on 66*.
Anderson is on a mission to collect Kohli's wicket here. One ball thumps him on the top of his thigh before he is nearly run-out by Ben Stokes by the next.
Jos Buttler is back onto the field with some significant strapping on his hand after his trip to hospital for an X-ray.
And the good news keeps coming for England as Anderson gets his second wicket! Shami edges behind and is caught by Malan, much to his relief.
Sharma comes to the crease now as the penultimate man in and India resume on 182/8. Incidentally, Malan's record now reads caught two, dropped two.
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