Akash Deep, Siraj strike early as England reach 72/3 at stumps on Day Four chasing 608 against India
Birmingham, Jul 5 (PTI): Akash Deep struck twice and Mohammed Siraj once as India made early inroads against England who reached 72 for three in pursuit of a mammoth 608-run target, at the end of play on Day Four in the second Test here on Saturday.
England need another 536 runs on the final day to maintain their 1-0 lead in the five-Test series for the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
Akash Deep accounted for Ben Duckett (25) and Joe Root (6) after Siraj removed Zak Crawley (0) in the second over.
Earlier in the final session, India declared at 427 for six with Shubman Gill hitting a consecutive second double ton (161) and KL Rahul (55), Rishabh Pant (65) and Ravindra Jadeja (69 not out) hitting their respective fifties.
Brief scores:
India 587 & 427/6 decl. lead England 407 & 72/3 (Ben Duckett 25, Ollie Pope 24*; Akash Deep 2/36, Mohammed Siraj 1/29) by 536 runs.
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UP: Imambara, Eidgah removed in Sambhal demolition drive
Sambhal (UP)(PTI): A demolition drive was carried out by the district administration here to remove an 'Imambara' and an 'Eidgah' allegedly built on government land in Bichhauli village on Thursday, officials said.
The action was undertaken by the Revenue Department amid police deployment to maintain law and order as the site was cleared of what authorities termed as "encroachments" on public land, they said.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Nidhi Patel told reporters that the plot numbers 1240 and 1242 are classified as public utility land, including manure pits and grazing grounds, where any construction is illegal.
Proceedings were initiated in the tehsildar's court under relevant provisions, and eviction orders were issued after a hearing, she said.
"Following the orders, the revenue and police teams have taken action to remove the encroachment," Patel said.
Sambhal has been in the news in recent months over administrative crackdowns on alleged encroachments and disputes related to land use and religious structures.
Authorities stepped up enforcement actions since the November 2024 violence during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in the Kot Garvi area of the city.
