Manchester: A massive 166-run opening stand between Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley helped England reach 225 for the loss of two wickets at the end of the second day against India in the ongoing fourth Test of the five-match series at Old Trafford in Manchester on Thursday.
The Three Lions were 225/2, with Ollie Pope and Joe Root undefeated at the crease. Enhans still trails India's total of 358 by 133 runs.
The Ben Stokes-led team began the final session of the second day at 77/0, with Duckett (43) and Crawley (33) undefeated at the crease.
Duckett reached his fifty with a boundary on the first ball of the 19th over, delivered by right-arm seamer Shardul Thakur. This border also raised the hundredth of the team.
In the 21st over, Crawley reached his halfcentury by hitting a four off Shardul's ball.
In the 29th over, the England cricket team reached the 150-run milestone when Duckett struck a boundary off Mohammed Siraj's delivery.
England lost their first wicket in the 32nd over, with Ravindra Jadeja, a left-arm spinner, removing Zak Crawley (84 runs off 113 balls) to reduce the total to 166.
Following Crawley's resignation, Zak Crawley, a right-handed batter, took the pitch in the middle.
England lost their second wicket, with a score of 197. Debutant Anshul Kamboj got his first Test wicket by dismissing Duckett (94 runs off 100 balls) and returning him to the pavilion.
The team achieved the 200-run milestone in the 39th over, with PPope striking a boundary off Kamboj's delivery.
England concluded Day 2 with 225/2 in 46 overs. Before the conclusion of play, Pope and Root had an undefeated 28(47) partnership.
On the Shubman Gillled side, Kamboj (1/48 in 10 overs) and Jadeja (1/37 in 8 overs) each claimed one wicket in their respective spells.
The Shubman Gill-led side were 321/6 earlier in the second session, with Rishabh Pant (39) and Washington Sundar (20) not out on the crease.
Sundar (27) and debutant Anshul Kamboj (0) were dismissed in the 110th over by England captain Ben Stokes, leaving Team India's total at 337.
Pant reached his halfcentury with a four off Stokes' first ball in the 112th over.
At the score of 349, India lost the wicket of Pant (54 runs off 75 deliveries) when he was cleaned up by right-arm seamer Jofra Archer. In the same over, the Shubman Gill-led team reached the 350-run milestone.
After Pant's removal, righthand batsman Mohammed Siraj (5) walked out to bat in the middle.
On the first delivery of the 115th over, India were bowled out for 358 when Archer bowled out righthand hitter Jasprit Bumrah (4).
Stokes was the finest bowler for the hosts, collecting a fifer in his 24-over spell while giving up 72 runs. Archer took three wickets (3/73 in 26. 1 overs), while right-arm seamer Chris Woakes (1/66 in 23 overs) and left-arm spinner Liam Dawson each took one wicket (1/45 in 15 overs).
In reaction to India's 358, openers Duckett and Crawley went out to bat.
Both batsmen got off to a cautious start before charging the Indian bowlers, notably right-arm pacer Siraj (0/26 in four overs) and Kamboj (0/29 in five overs). Bumrah was a little pricey, conceding 22 runs in his first five overs.
In the first session, the visitors only scored 57 runs in 22 overs, losing two key wickets. Jofra Archer, who looked sharp from the start, got England off to a great start by dismissing Ravindra Jadeja for 20.
Shardul Thakur, known for his fighting character, demonstrated exceptional endurance on the other end. He absorbed the pressure, exploited the loose balls, and formed a useful stand before England captain Ben Stokes broke the deadlock by removing him for a well-crafted 41.
The session's most memorable point occurred when Rishabh Pant walked out to bat, suffering and visibly in pain but determined. As he approached the center, the audience cheered loudly. It was a scene that raised Indian spectators' spirits immediately.
Brief Score: India 358 all out (Sai Sudarshan 61, Yashasvi Jaiswal 58; Ben Stokes 5/72) versus England 225/2 (Ben Duckett 94, Zak Crawley 84; Ravindra Jadeja 1/37).
