India vs England, 1st Test, Day 4: Tom Hartley’s 7-62 dismantles India; England win by 28 runs. Session-wise Day 4 highlights.
Brief Scores: IND 436 (Rahul 86, Jadeja 87, Root 4/79), 202 (Rohit 39, Bharat 28, Hartley 7/62) lost to ENG 246 (Stokes 70, Ashwin 3/68, Jadeja 3/88), 420 (Pope 196, Duckett 47, Bumrah 4/41) by 28 runs.
Player of the Match: Ollie Pope (196 runs)
England beat India by 28 runs to go 1-0 up in this 5-match series.
After a breathtaking batting performance in the 2nd innings, courtesy of Ollie Pope’s stunning 196, England’s spinners, especially the debutant Tom Hartley bowled much better than their counterparts did to register a famous coming-off from-the-back win for the visitors.
Talking points from IND vs ENG, 1st Test: India’s batting order collapsed in the face of chasing a target
India’s poor top order which has been a huge cause of concern in Tests in a while, once again surfaced in their pursuit of 231 at Hyderabad. After conceding 420 runs in the 3rd innings, India hoped their top order would provide them a good start but nothing of that sort happened as they faltered in the chase.
None of the top 5 or 6 could get going as they meekly lost their wickets in what can be termed as soft dismissals. Poor shot-making and not so positive approach at the beginning of the innings can be called a reason for this collapse.
Ollie Pope and England’s lower order pile up lead beyond 200
Having started the day with a handy 126-run lead in the 2nd innings, the overnight pair of Ollie Pope and Rehan Ahmed continued to take the game forward. Pope quickly went past his 150-run mark and the pair had 23 more runs before Bumrah found the edge of Rehan.
India would have hoped to wrap the next 2 English wickets but debutant Tom Hartley who had an ordinary outing with the ball negotiated India spinners to great effect by contributing a valuable 34 in his 80-run stand with Pope who moved ever so comfortably to his 2nd Test double ton. However, the right-hander fell just 4 runs short of what would have been a sensational double century but not before giving England a competitive lead of 230 runs.
Read More: IND vs ENG, 1st Test, Day 3: Ollie Pope 148* puts England back in the game, visitors 126 runs ahead
Debutant Hartley picks 3 of India’s top order to lead England’s charge
India’s openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma had a steady start much like the first innings until Ollie Pope’s brilliance in forward short leg dented the home team’s progress. He plucked 2 outstanding catches off the bowling of Tom Hartley to send back Jaiswal (15) and Shubman Gill (0) in the same over.
The left-arm spinner who had a forgettable outing in his maiden Test innings, looked much improved as he not only snared Gill and Jaiswal in few deliveries apart but also removed the well-settled India skipper Rohit Sharma for 39 as India were reduced to 63/3 in their pursuit of 231. Axar was promoted up the order and he along with KL Rahul made sure England didn’t make further inroads as they went to tea at 95/3.
Read More: IND vs ENG, 1st Test, Day 2: Rahul 86, Jadeja 81* take India 175 runs ahead
England’s all-round brilliance in the field took them to a 1-0 lead
India had a horror start to the last session as they lost Axar Patel in the very first over with Hartley picking his 4th of the innings. Rahul who looked comfortable also perished when was struck plumb in front of Joe Root and a stunning work from Ben Stokes on the field resulted in a run out of Ravindra Jadeja. India from 95/3 at the start of the session lost their way to 119/7 following the departure of Shreyas Iyer and the hosts looked in all sorts of trouble.
The partnership of 57 for the 8th wicket between Ravi Ashwin and KS Bharat kept India in the game but it was always going to be a tough task for the home side after a poor batting performance earlier. Tom Hartley snapped both the set batters in successive overs to dent India’s chances further. Despite a 25-run stand for the last wicket, England managed to script a famous win.
Read More: IND vs ENG, 1st Test, Day 1: India spinners trump Bazball, restrict England to 246; India 119-1
What’s to come
After being down and out at one stage, England won the match by 28 runs and these 2 sides will once again face off against each other at Vishakhapatnam on 2nd February. While India will look to square the series after a deep retrospection of this result, England would want to continue their winning run.
Statistical highlights from the India vs England, 1st Test, Day 4
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When Shubman Gill fell to Tom Hartley for a duck, it was his 9th dismissal against a left-arm spinner in Tests in 19 innings. He has scored 184 at an average of 20.4 against left-arm spin.
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Similarly, this was Rohit Sharma’s 18th dismissal against left-arm spin in 36 Test innings.
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Ollie Pope’s 196 is the 4th highest score by any player in a 2nd innings against India in India after Andy Flower’s 232*, Brendon McCullum’s 225, and Gary Sobers’ 198.
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196 by Pope is his 2nd best score in Tests only behind 205 he scored against Ireland in 2023 at Lords’.
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Jasprit Bumrah’s 4/41 is his 2nd best innings figures in Tests in India after 5/24 at Bengaluru. The pacer now has 20 wickets in 5 Tests in India.
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This is also 4th highest score by an English batter against India away from home. Pope is only behind Joe Root (218), Mike Gatting (207), and G Fowler (201). As mentioned, this is the best score by an England batter in 3rd or 4th innings of a Test match in India.
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England’s 420 in the 2nd innings is the 7th highest total posted in India in a 3rd innings of a Test match. It is also their 2nd highest after 497/5 in Kanpur way back in 1961.
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Tom Hartley took his maiden 5-wicket haul in Tests and became just the 7th bowler to pick a fifer against India in India on Test debut.
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Hartley finished at 7/62 and now has the 4th best innings figures for a debutant playing against India in India.
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This is England’s 15th Test win in India and this is the first time India has lost at home after having a first-innings lead of 100 or more.
Read More: Will England still go for Bazball on India’s spinning tracks?
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