Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, who was trusted with the role of a lone spinner with the injury of Ravichandran Ashwin, proved the worth of the opportunity with a classy and a measured innings at the Oval in the fifth Test against England. Jadeja scored his second-best career score of 86 runs to put India to a rather respectable position. And en route to his unbeaten knock, Jadeja performed his signature sword dance on reaching his ninth Test fifty.
Jadeja scored an unbeaten 86 with 11 boundaries and one six as India ended innings 40 runs behind England’s first-innings total of 332.
Impressed by his innings, former England cricketer Micahel Vaughan tweeted, “Love the way @imjadeja plays the game … Somehow India have to find a way to play him all the time … Great skills … #ENGvIND.”
After a nervy start to the first session on the third day that witnessed Jadeja leaving 49 balls in the second hour, the Saurashtrian eased in as the bowlers turned tired and then stitched a gritty 77-run partnership for the seventh wicket alongside Hanuma Vihari to leave India at 240 for 7 at the lunch break. India lost Hanuma and Ishant Sharma around before and after the break, and Jadeja was stuck with Jasprit Bumrah.
From 41 after Lunch, Jadeja shifted gears to T20 mode to launch the fierce Anderson for a four and then a six, before taking on Broad as well to blaze into his 80s. En route, he notched up his ninth Test fifty.
