England took a big, not a giant one, leap forward in taking a 2-1 lead over India in the 5-match Investec test series. At stumps on day 2 in Manchester, 
England were 85 runs ahead with 4 wickets still remaining in hand. Joe Root and Moeen Ali were looking good at the crease before rain had come in and stopped play mid-way through the second session of the day.
India made a good start to second day morning as they got 3 wickets including the big one of Ian Bell in the first session of the play and were strongly back in the match. The Indians bowled with discipline to get the wickets of overnight not out batsmen Chris Jordan and Ian Bell before they could have forced a severe damage. Bhuvaneshwar Kumar was the bowler who got those wickets. He was well backed up by Varun Aaron who fooled Moeen Ali with some short pith bowling and then getting him out by a full length delivery. At the end of the first session of the play India was slowly clawing back into the match.
But as the second session began England slowly got the proceedings under control despite India’s repeated attempts to get them out. And when it seemed that the match was slowly going out of India’s grip the rains came in and there was no play in the rest of the day for wet outfield.
As of now India will be looking forward for more rain in the upcoming three days of the test match for rain can only be the savior for India in this contest. The only other way in which India can revive their fortunes in this test match is by batting exceptionally well in the second innings and post a big total. That looks a distant dream for India need to get the remaining 4 wickets of the English batting line up as early as possible on the third day morning.
