Swingin’ Sam Curran spell rocks India
Sam Curran stunned the Indian top order with a sensational spell on the second morning at Edgbaston.
The 20-year-old Surrey left-armer entered the attack with the tourists’ opening pair going smoothly but his first four overs reaped 3-14 to break the innings open for Joe Root’s team.
His first wicket came as the England captain, with the score at 50-0, made a bold call to review an lbw shout against the well-set Murali Vijay (20). With the ball swinging appreciably, Hawk Eye’s ball tracking showed the delivery pitching in line and hitting the stumps to give England their first breakthrough.
He’s on fire @CurranSM! ?
Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/E3ph4x4tRS#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/vEJyjysNzl
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 2, 2018
Two balls later Curran had a double-breakthrough. KL Rahul (4) had a big drive at a full ball outside the off stump to drag the ball back on to his stumps and the complexion of the morning session had changed.
That brought Virat Kohli to the crease, but it was opener Shikhar Dhawan who was next to fall prey to the full-pitched swing bowling of Curran. The left-hander, who had looked slightly less comfortable, pushed hard at an outswinger and edged a comfortable catch to Dawid Malan at second slip for 26. The 20-year-old had taken three wickets in eight deliveries.
Curran was preferred to Essex’s Jamie Porter as the third seamer for this match.
With England determined to target Kohli, Jimmy Anderson bowled 10 consecutive overs with the new ball before the lunch interval, which India entered 76-3.
India had wrapped up the England innings within two overs on the second morning, as Curran was caught behind off Mohammed Shami.
