The match officials decided to take an early lunch, moving the scheduled break ahead by 30 minutes. Even after lunch, there was no respite from the rain and it went on throughout the afternoon.
Yashasvi Jaiswal's dream season just got better as he single-handedly seized the initiative from England with a sizzling century, putting India in complete control.
Rohit Sharma took the player-of-the-match award and Jasprit Bumrah produced what pundits called the 'spell of the summer' but Shardul Thakur's role was no less important in fashioning India's victory in the fourth Test against England on Monday.
Rajneesh Gupta lists all the important numbers from day two of the Oval Test.
The standout performers that allowed India to maintain their upper hand over England were young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav.
Zak Crawley scored a maiden Test half century before South Africa fought back to restrict England to 192 for four when bad light stopped play early in the opening day of the fourth Test on Friday.
Jonny Bairstow led England to within 40 runs of South Africa's first innings total, with seven wickets in hand, on the first day of the second Test at Old Trafford on Thursday.
IMAGES from the 1st Test, Day 1 between India and England played at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, on Thursday
The novel coronavirus shutdown has allowed cricketers to recharge their batteries and could help prolong their careers by a few years, England wicket-keeper Jos Buttler said. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) last month extended the suspension of the professional game in the country until July 1 and Buttler believes the extended break will prove beneficial in the long run.
England's highest successful run chase came in 2019 when they reached a 359-run target in an Ashes test against Australia on the back of Stokes's brilliant unbeaten century.
Images from Day 4 of the fourth Test between India and England in Ranchi on Monday, February 26.
India led the way in the development of Test cricket under former skipper Virat Kohli, according to South African legend Graeme Smith, who reckons only five or six countries may be playing the longest format in the coming years.
New Zealand head into the final day still facing a five-run deficit after England were dismissed in their first innings for 476
Can the subcontinent giants maintain their 12-year invincibility?
England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler said on Saturday he had been stressing about his lack of Test runs and feeling the pressure of mounting speculation about his place in the team. Buttler has a reputation as a swashbuckling batsman in the limited over games but had averaged only 18 runs in his last seven Tests since replacing Jonny Bairstow as wicketkeeper in New Zealand last November.
Chasing a record victory target of 482, England were all out for 164 in their second innings with No. 9 batsman Moeen Ali their top scorer with a breezy 43.
The ball moved enough in last week's Southampton Test between England and West Indies to erase any lingering doubt about swing bowling under cricket's COVID-19 protocols, manufacturer of the Dukes ball said.
IMAGES from Day 4 of the 3rd Test played between England and New Zealand at Headingley on Sunday.
Ishan Kishan has made a massive jump to enter the top 10 among T20 batters.
A concussed Smith was ruled out of the third Test, starting at Headingley on Thursday, after being struck in the neck by a vicious bouncer from England paceman Jofra Archer.
Images from Day 1 of the first Test between England and New Zealand at Lord's on Thursday, June 2, 2022.
Brook has now scored four centuries in his past five Tests
South Africa's Anrich Nortje took the vital wickets of captain Joe Root and talisman Ben Stokes as England struggled to 262 for nine at stumps on the first day of the second Test on Friday. Pace bowler Nortje, playing his fourth Test, finished with 2-54 off 17 overs as the home side restricted the tourists on a Newlands wicket that was expected to be full of runs. Images from the opening day of the second Test at Newlands on Friday.
'I know how hard he has worked to try to get back fit and I hope it is not too bad and he can get back as soon as possible.'
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for the second Test against England?
Images from Day 2 of the first Test between India and England, at the M A Chidambaram stadium, in Chennai.
Who do you think should be part of England's playing XI for the first Test?
Ponting slammed England skipper Joe Root, Stokes and Jos Buttler for the manner of their dismissals
Strauss has also called for a change in England's top-order after another disappointing show by the batsmen.
With 794 points, pacer Jasprit Bumrah was the top-ranked Indian bowler at sixth place, while Kohli was the top-ranked batsmen.
It took nearly a year longer than Australia hoped but Nathan Lyon ended his agonising wait for a 400th Test victim in style on Saturday during a match-winning four-wicket haul that sent England crashing to a stinging Ashes defeat at the Gabba.
India's emphatic win over England was a tailor-made series for the debutants. The absence of key players gave India the perfect opportunity to test their bench strength and boy, did the youngsters grab the chance with both hands!
'Even scorecards in T20 matches read better than the one we saw in Ahmedabad.'
But half-centuries from Ollie Pope (65 off 103) and Steven Mullaney (58 off 54) helped England Lions resurrect their innings. However, the visitors still could only manage 221 for 8 in 50 overs.
Images from Day 4 of the 3rd Test played between South Africa and England in Port Elizabeth on Sunday
Dom Bess took three more South African wickets, and grabbed his first test five wicket haul, to increase England's stranglehold
In the bowling department, pacer Mohammad Abbas (13th) and experienced leg-spinner Yasir Shah (24th), who have in the past, been ranked third and first, respectively, and left-arm fast bowler Shaheen Afridi (32nd) are other Pakistan players to watch.
Joe Root ended a poor run of form when he scored his 17th Test century and led England to 269-5 before rain ended play early on the third day of the second Test against New Zealand, at Seddon Park in Hamilton, on Sunday.
Another England bowler to advance in the rankings was Chris Woakes, whose five-wicket haul in the second innings lifted him to 20th position and a career-best rating points tally of 654.
'There is no need to force it but if we keep it tight in the morning session, I believe the pressure will bring some rewards.'
