Cruising at 333 for 4, India lost their last six wickets for just 31 runs to set up a 371-run target for England on the fourth day of the first Test match between the two countries at Headingeley on Monday. Josh Tongue did much of the damage in the post-tea session by taking three wickets in just one over.
Earlier, opener KL Rahul and wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant hit fluent centuries as India reached a formidable total of 298 for 4 at tea. While Rahul departed in the final session of the day at 137, Pant made 118 off just 140 deliveries.
The two shared a 195-run partnership for the fourth wicket as India overcame the early loss of skipper Shubman Gill, who was sent back to the pavilion at 8. This was Rahul’s ninth Test century and Pant’s eighth. Pant became only the second wicketkeeper in the history of Test cricket to score hundreds in both innings of a Test. He joins Zimbabwe great Andy Flower as the only wicketkeeper to achieve this feat.
England exploited the liveliness in the pitch in the morning session to trouble India batsmen as pacer Brydon Carse dismissed Gill for 8 runs. Keeping his natural instinct in check after trying to hit a flashy shot in the first session, Pant switched gears only after lunch and cut loose to dominate the bowlers, who were clearly at the receiving end. However, Pant’s luck ran out when he was caught by Zak Crawley at long-on off the bowling of Shoaib Bashir.
Earlier, Rahul played a measured knock as India reached 153 for three at lunch after resuming their innings from their overnight total of 91 for 2. Gill’s dismissal was a bit unlucky as he chopped Brydon Carse’s good length delivery on to the stumps. He was rooted to the crease as the ball cramped him for room before hitting the stumps. As he walked back to the dressing room, Gill stared at the spot where the ball landed, wondering if it had pitched on one of those cracks.
Pant took command as he charged down the ground to hit the fast bowlers, but it took him a while to get into the groove. He got off the mark with a thick outside edge off Chris Woakes that flew over the slip cordon. Pant, who tried his slog sweep and the trademark falling paddle sweep, was heard scolding himself in the stump mic after playing a rash shot, which made Ben Stokes seek a review. The swinging ball had touched the bat before hitting Pant’s pads, and the TV umpire ruled in his favour. Luck was on Rahul’s side as well as Harry Brook dropped him at gully after Rahul tried to steer a quicker one by Josh Tongue.
Brief scores: India: 471 and 364 all out in 96 overs (KL Rahul 137, Rishabh Pant 118; Josh Tongue 3/72, Brydon Carse 3/80). England 1st innings: 465 all out.
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