England Faces Tough Challenge as India Seizes Advantage
In a captivating first day of Test cricket at Headingley, India posted a formidable total of 471 before being bowled out, with Rishabh Pant leading the charge with a sensational 134 runs. England’s bowling attack, spearheaded by Ben Stokes and newcomer Josh Tongue, mounted a fierce comeback after India looked poised for a monumental total, slipping from 430 for 3 to 471 all out.
After starting the innings, England faced immediate pressure when Zak Crawley fell for just 4 runs, caught off a sharp delivery from Jasprit Bumrah. Despite the loss, Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett steadied the ship, with England reaching 14 for 1 at the 3rd over. Bumrah continued to probe, noticeably rattling Pope with a near-dismissal that was reviewed but deemed not out.
During India’s innings, Pant’s explosive performance included 12 fours and 6 sixes, contributing significantly to a robust fourth-wicket partnership with Shubman Gill, which totaled 209 runs. However, the narrative shifted when England struck back hard, taking the last seven Indian wickets for just 41 runs. Tongue excelled on debut, finishing with impressive figures of 4 for 86.
With the match poised delicately, the early England batting display suggested that they would need to dig deep against India’s bowling spearheaded by Bumrah, who appeared menacing under floodlights. The day’s events left fans eager for more as both teams looked to seize crucial momentum heading into the second day of play.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
