In the fourth test between India and England, Shoaib Bashir captures three wickets as England draws level at tea on Day 2

In Ranchi, Shoaib Bashir took three wickets at the top of the order, but England was once again up against strong opener Yashasvi Jaiswal of India.

On the second morning of the fourth Test, Joe Root (122 not out) and Ollie Robinson (58) added 51 to England’s overnight total of 302 for seven. However, they lost their last three wickets for six runs in 17 balls.

Before the recalled Bashir got Shubman Gill and Rajat Patidar leg before wicket and Ravindra Jadeja caught bat-pad as India went into lunchtime on 131 for four, James Anderson trapped Rohit Sharma to bring the score to within three of 700 Test wickets.

On a field that, while the odd delivery kept the score modest, lacked the gremlins that had caused England’s top-order serious issues a day earlier, Jaiswal (54 not out) was unmovable.

In his first match since July, Robinson twice got close to Jaiswal’s edge, but the ball bounced beyond Ben Stokes and Zak Crawley, much to England’s evident dismay.

In his second over, Anderson struck first, getting one to stay its line and kiss Rohit’s outside edge on its way through to Ben Foakes. Robinson then did the same to Jaiswal, but the ball dropped at second slip in front of a diving Crawley before skipping away for the opener’s first four.

Former Australia opener Matthew Hayden famously chastised Robinson for bowling at “124kph (77mph) nude nuts” during the Ashes, and the seamer did nothing to shake off the nickname as he bowled in the mid-70mph zone.

However, he and Jaiswal had an intriguing battle. After lunch, Jaiswal pushed at a broader delivery, and Foakes lunged forward to take the lead, but third umpire Joel Wilson ruled the ball had bounced.

Before the “not out” decision was shown on the two large screens, England rejoiced. England’s captain, Ben Stokes, cupped his hands over his mouth in disbelief.

At the other end, Bashir was probing away. Although Jaiswal blasted him back over his head for six, the off-spinner managed to extract some turn in only his second Test match, defeating Patidar (12) and Gill (38) on the inside edge to get leg-before verdicts.

After Tom Hartley was brought on in the 32nd over, Ravindra Jadeja hit him for two consecutive sixes. Bashir’s additional bounce brought him down, and Jadeja then popped a catch to Ollie Pope at short leg.

Earlier, after two deliveries, India got the new ball, but the hosts were unable to take advantage as Robinson hit three fours in a thrilling over from Akash Deep, who twice beat the outside edge of the lower-order hitter.

By slog-sweeping Jadeja for a ninth four and one six, Robinson reached his maiden half-century in Test cricket. He also extended his partnership with Root to three figures, marking England’s first century stand for the eighth wicket since August 2017.

However, England’s innings swiftly came apart as a reverse sweep effort from Jadeja touched Robinson’s glove on the way to Dhruv Jurel.

While Anderson mishandled a sweep and went leg before wicket, Jadeja claimed his third wicket of the morning and that of India when Shoaib Bashir bundled a skier to backward point. Jadeja, who bowled four for 67, was the most effective bowler.