'Akash Deep wasn't afraid of ... ': Ex-India cricketer's big remark on fearless nightwatchman
Former India cricketer
Sanjay Bangar
heaped praise on fast bowler Akash Deep for his composed and impactful batting performance in the second innings, which gave India a significant lift in the ongoing fifth Test against England at The Oval.
Akash, who scored a fluent 66 studded with 12 boundaries, stitched a crucial 107-run stand for the third wicket alongside opener
Yashasvi Jaiswal
. Their partnership not only stabilized India's innings but also laid the groundwork for the middle order.
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'Akash Deep took his chances early on against Bethell in the very first over, but after that, he was very, very thoughtful. He played like a proper batsman; he is capable of batting, and he was the one who saved India from a follow-on in the Brisbane Test match.
He showed a lot of heart and wasn't afraid of the short ball.
"He took his chances when the field was up, defended when the field was back, and ran really well between the wickets. Yashasvi Jaiswal's contribution was also immense in that partnership, as he made sure Akash Deep stayed in the zone and helped him stitch that partnership together," Bangar said on JioHotstar.
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Jaiswal's fine century (118), complemented by half-centuries from
Ravindra Jadeja
and Washington Sundar, propelled India to a total of 396, setting a stiff target of 374 for the hosts.
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England, in reply, ended Day 3 at 50 for 1, with
Mohammed Siraj
striking late to remove Zak Crawley. The tall opener was undone by a sharp off-stump yorker from Siraj just before stumps, tilting the momentum slightly in India's favour heading into Day 4.
Bangar lauded India's bowling effort in the final session.
'Credit to India that they didn't allow the English batters to run away with the game. Both these teams were playing the waiting game; even somebody like Duckett wasn't really charging down the wicket or playing those reverse scoops.
They knew they had to hang on, and they took a few blows on their fingers as well. But all in all, to end a Day like that would certainly mean that India would go to bed the happier team. Because had they not got this particular wicket, you know what damage the England openers can do, and so far they have been very, very effective in the series.
'
India vs England Day 4 weather forecast: More rain in store for Day 4, which team will benefit?
'A wicket makes a massive difference. Both openers were very, very confident. Crawley even took one ball on the bicep, and Duckett was hit on the fingers.
Prasidh and Akash Deep, to me, were the pick of the bowlers in that small spell.
"All three bowlers made life difficult for the English batters. The fact that they were imaginative, like having a sweeper cover for Zak Crawley, or even the smart placement of a slightly deeper square leg for Duckett, made the batters think about where their scoring opportunities were. So, credit to India for coming out with different plans and forcing the English batters to adjust. It was good cricket all around," Bangar added.
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