England wrested control of the fourth Test at Old Trafford as Ben Duckett (94) and Zak Crawley (84) powered a strong reply after captain Ben Stokes picked up his first five-wicket haul in eight years to bowl out India for 358.
At stumps on Day 2, England were 225/2 in just 46 overs, trailing by 133 runs with Joe Root (11*) and Ollie Pope (20*) at the crease.
Earlier, Stokes returned figures of 5/72 — his first five-for since 2016 — to lead England’s fightback with the ball. The highlight of India’s innings was Rishabh Pant’s valiant 54, scored despite a fractured right foot. Gritting through visible discomfort, Pant’s knock drew applause for both courage and craft.
England’s openers then came out all guns blazing. Duckett and Crawley stitched a 166-run stand off just 195 balls, neutralising India’s total with aggressive strokeplay. Crawley brought up his half-century in 73 balls, while Duckett got there in just 46.
India’s first breakthrough came when Ravindra Jadeja induced an edge from Crawley on 84, with KL Rahul taking a low catch at slip. Duckett continued the charge, taking on Mohammed Siraj with three boundaries in one over, but fell agonisingly short of a century — nicking behind to give debutant Anshul Kamboj his first Test scalp.
With Root and Pope seeing off the remaining overs, England walked off in command, eyeing a crucial first-innings lead on a pitch that has already started turning.
Brief scores:
India 358 in 114.1 overs (B Sai Sudharsan 61, Yashasvi Jaiswal 58; Ben Stokes 5/72, Jofra Archer 3/73)
England 225/2 in 46 overs (Ben Duckett 94, Zak Crawley 84; Ravindra Jadeja 1/37, Anshul Kamboj 1/48)
England trail by 133 runs
IANS
