Key Points

England's openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley launched a powerful counterattack after Ben Stokes' impressive five-wicket haul. Rishabh Pant's brave fifty for India was overshadowed by his painful injury and subsequent dismissal. The match is finely poised with England trailing by 281 runs after a rapid start. The Old Trafford Test promises an exciting battle between bat and ball.

Key Points: Duckett Crawley Blast England to 77/0 Against India Test

  • Stokes claims 5-72 to bowl India out for 358
  • Duckett and Crawley provide rapid start for England
  • Pant defies injury to score courageous fifty
  • Archer takes crucial 3-75 in India's innings
3 min read

4th Test: Duckett and Crawley take England to a rapid 77/0, trail India by 281 runs

England openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley dominate after Stokes' five-wicket haul, setting up thrilling battle at Old Trafford

"A brave knock that will be talked about for ages - On Rishabh Pant's gutsy 54"

Manchester, July 24

Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley got England off to a flying start as the hosts' reached a rapid 77/0 in 14 overs and trail India by 281 runs at tea on day two of fourth Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test at Old Trafford on Thursday.

Skipper Ben Stokes previously led the way for England with 5-72 as they bowled out India for 358 in 114.1 overs. For India, vice-captain Rishabh Pant astonishing everyone by coming out to bat despite a fractured fifth metatarsal in the right foot, hit a brave 54 off 75 balls - a knock which will be talked for ages to come.

Questions were around how the Indian bowlers would make use of bowler-friendly conditions, but Crawley and Duckett, unbeaten on 33 and 46 respectively, came out all guns blazing by feasting on the inconsistent lines and lengths from the tourists' bowling line-up.

Duckett laid the platform for England by hitting four boundaries off debutant Anshul Kamboj, before glancing Jasprit Bumrah for three boundaries. While Duckett has feasted on anything on his legs, Crawley took a liking to Mohammed Siraj's freebies and hit three boundaries. The duo would take a four each off Siraj and Kamboj to ensure England hit a great punch till tea break came.

Previously, Pant, who retired hurt on 37 after the painful blow to the foot on day one, added 17 more runs to India's total and that meant they managed to cross 350-run mark. The second session began with Washington Sundar getting a healthy edge off Stokes for four, before he hooked a short ball from Chris Woakes to deep fine leg and fall for 27 off 90 balls.

Stokes completed his first five-wicket haul in eight years when his outswinger took an edge of Kamboj's bat and was caught safely by Jamie Smith. Pant finally got the timing right when he nailed a pull off Archer for six and reached his 18th Test fifty in 69 balls by reaching out to Stokes' wide ball and sent it cracking through cover for four.

But for the second consecutive time, Archer sent Pant's off-stump on a cartwheel ride, as hit gutsy knock came to an end at 54 off 75 balls and received rousing reception from the spectators.

Siraj and Bumrah hanged around to hit a boundary each, before the latter swung a leg-side delivery off Archer and the ball was caught by Smith. After Root persuaded to go for a review, that proved to be a shrewd move as a nick was detected and resulted in India's innings coming to an end, with Archer taking 3-75.

Brief Scores: India 358 in 114.1 overs (B Sai Sudharsan 61, Yashasvi Jaiswal 58; Ben Stokes 5-72, Jofra Archer 3-73) lead England 77/0 in 14 overs (Ben Duckett 46 not out, Zak Crawley 33 not out) by 281 runs

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Priya N
England's openers are making our bowling look ordinary. Where's the discipline we saw in the first innings? Bumrah and Siraj need to find their rhythm quickly or this match could slip away. Still 281 runs ahead though - game is evenly poised!
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Amit K
Why are we playing debutant Kamboj in such a crucial Test? Experience matters in England conditions. Should have gone with Ashwin's variations. Hope the team management learns from this.
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Sarah B
What an entertaining session of cricket! Duckett and Crawley showing how to bat positively in Tests. But credit to India for crossing 350 - that Pant innings was special. Test cricket at its best! 🇮🇳🏴
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Vikram M
Stokes taking 5 wickets after so long shows his class. But we're still ahead in the game. Need 2-3 quick wickets after tea and put pressure back on England. Jadeja's absence is being felt in these conditions.
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Nisha Z
Pant's innings reminded me of Dhoni's 76 vs England in 2014 with back injury. These are the moments that make cricket more than just a game. Hope our bowlers can create some magic now! 💙

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