• Ben Duckett slammed a phenomenal ton against India on Day 2 of the Rajkot Test.

  • England finished the day at a decent score of 207/2.

Twitter reactions: Ben Duckett’s counter ton ensures England stay in contention against India on Day 2 of the Rajkot Test
Ben Duckett (Image Source: Twitter)

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The Rajkot Test between England and India took an exhilarating turn on Day 2 as both teams displayed exceptional resilience with the bat. After a splendid opening day featuring centuries from Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja, it was England’s Ben Duckett who stole the spotlight on the second day, ensuring that his team remained firmly in contention despite India posting a formidable total.

Dhruv Jurel and Ravichandran Ashwin display resilience

Resuming their innings at 326/5, India faced an early setback with the dismissal of Jadeja. However, Ravichandran Ashwin and Dhruv Jurel stepped up to the challenge, crafting a brilliant partnership to keep the visitors on the backfoot. Jurel contributed 46 runs, while Ashwin played a crucial knock of 37 runs. The late flourish from Jasprit Bumrah (26) further bolstered India’s innings as they eventually reached a mammoth score of 445. Mark Wood emerged as the highest wicket-taker for England, claiming four wickets, with Rehan Ahmed also chipping in with two.

England’s response: Ben Duckett’s breathtaking century

Facing a daunting target, England’s openers, Zak Crawley and Duckett, once again showcased impressive partnership skills. Although Crawley departed early, Duckett emerged as the hero of the day with a sensational century. Notably, he became the fastest English batter to reach a ton on Indian soil, achieving the milestone in just 88 balls. Ollie Pope offered valuable support after Crawley’s departure, contributing 39 runs before being dismissed.

Duckett’s dominance

Duckett’s innings was nothing short of spectacular as he maintained a steady scoring pace. His ability to find the gaps and play aggressive yet calculated shots kept England’s hopes alive. Teaming up with Joe Root (9*), Duckett ensured that further wickets did not fall, guiding England to a strong position with a score of 207/2 by the end of the day.

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Indian bowlers’ efforts

Despite England’s resilience, Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj managed to pick up a wicket each for India. The bowlers tried to break the Duckett-Root partnership, but the English duo remained steadfast, denying the hosts any further breakthroughs before stumps were called.

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

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About the Author:
VISHWANATH HARIHARAN
Vishwanath Hariharan is Content Strategist at CricketTimes.com. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication. From breaking news stories to in-depth features and opinion pieces, he has covered a wide range of topics. Vishwanath is very fond of watching cricket. Like many others, he too grew up watching, playing, and imitating his favourite players of the game. MS Dhoni is like a demigod to him. You can connect with him at vishwanath.hariharan@crickettimes.com and follow him on Twitter & Linkedin.