Duckett-Crawley partnership helps England score 225/2 against India in Manchester Test
The Three Lions were 225/2 with Ollie Pope and Joe Root unbeaten on the crease. Enhans still trails India's total of 358 by 133 runs.
The Ben Stokes-led side began the third and final session of the second day from 77/0 with Duckett (43*) and Crawley (33*) unbeaten on the crease.
On the first ball of the 19th over, bowled by right-arm seamer Shardul Thakur, Duckett brought his fifty as he hit a boundary. This boundary also brought up the hundred of the side.
In the 21st over, Crawley completed his half-century as he slammed a boundary on the bowling of Shardul.
In the 29th over, the England cricket team touched the 150-run mark as Duckett hit a boundary on the bowling of Mohammed Siraj.
England lost their first wicket in the 32nd over at the score of 166 as left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Zak Crawley (84 runs off 113 balls).
After Crawley's dismissal, right-hand batter Zak Crawley came out to bat in the middle.
At the score of 197, England lost their second wicket. Debutant Anshul Kamboj grabbed his maiden Test wicket as he sent Duckett (94 runs from 100 balls) back to the pavilion,
The team completed the 200-run mark in the 39th over as PPope slammed a boundary on the bowling of Kamboj.
At the end of Day 2, England finished at 225/2 in their 46 overs. Before the end of play, both Pope and Root built an unbeaten 28(47) partnership.
For the Shubman Gill-led side, one wicket each was grabbed by Kamboj (1/48 in 10 overs) and Jadeja (1/37 in 8 overs) in their respective spells.
Earlier in the second session, the Shubman Gill-led side from 321/6 with Rishabh Pant (39*) and Washington Sundar (20*) unbeaten on the crease.
In the 110th over, Team India lost two wickets as Sundar (27) and debutant Anshul Kamboj (0) were sent back to the pavilion by England skipper Ben Stokes when the side's score was 337.
Pant completed his half-century on the first ball of the 112th over as he slammed a boundary on the bowling of Stokes.
At the score of 349, India lost the wicket of Pant (54 runs off 75 balls) as he was cleaned up by right-arm seamer Jofra Archer. In the same over, the Shubman Gill-led side touched the 350-run mark.
After Pant's dismissal, right-hand batter Mohammed Siraj (5*) came out to bat in the middle.
On the first ball of the 115th over, India were bowled out at the score of 358 as right-hand batter Jasprit Bumrah (4) was dismissed by Archer.
For the hosts, the pick of the bowlers was Stokes, who bagged a fifer in his spell of 24 overs, where he conceded 72 runs in his spell. Three wickets were snapped by Archer (3/73 in 26.1 overs), and one wicket each was grabbed by right-arm seamer Chris Woakes (1/66 in 23 overs) & left-arm spinner Liam Dawson (1/45 in 15 overs) in their respective spells.
In reply to India's 358, openers Duckett and Crawley came out to bat on the crease.
Both players started off the innings carefully, but later attacked the Indian bowlers, especially right-arm pacer Siraj (0/26 in 4 overs) and Kamboj (0/29 in 5 overs). Bumrah was also a little bit expensive as he gave away 22 runs in his first five overs.
In the first session, the visitors managed to add just 57 runs in 22 overs, losing two important wickets along the way. Jofra Archer, who looked sharp from the start, gave England the perfect start by dismissing Ravindra Jadeja for 20.
Shardul Thakur, known for his fighting spirit, showed great patience at the other end. He absorbed the pressure, punished the loose balls, and built a useful stand before England skipper Ben Stokes got the breakthrough by dismissing him for a well-made 41.
The biggest moment of the session came when Rishabh Pant walked out to bat, limping and clearly in discomfort, yet determined. As he made his way to the middle, the crowd erupted with a huge roar. It was a sight that lifted Indian fans' spirits instantly.
Brief Score: India 358 all out (Sai Sudarshan 61, Yashasvi Jaiswal 58; Ben Stokes 5/72) vs England 225/2 (Ben Duckett 94, Zak Crawley 84; Ravindra Jadeja 1/37).
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Observer
7 hours ago
- Observer
India captain Gill run out in sight of Gavaskar record
LONDON: India captain Shubman Gill ran himself out on Thursday's opening day of the fifth and deciding Test against England as he closed in on Sunil Gavaskar's national record for runs in a series. The tourists were 85-3 when rain stopped play for a second time at the Oval after being sent in to bat in a match India must win to square the series at 2-2. Gill, who has already scored four hundreds in a prolific debut campaign as captain, came in with India struggling on 38-2. At that stage, he needed just 53 more runs to overhaul Gavaskar's mark for the most runs scored by an India batsman in a Test series of 774 -- set by the "Little Master" against the West Indies in 1971. The 25-year-old Gill struck several elegant trademark drives and rarely looked in trouble, despite the overcast, bowler-friendly conditions that favoured England's quicks. But on 21 he pushed the ball into the offside and set off for a single that was never on, with fast bowler Gus Atkinson, following through, throwing down the stumps at the striker's end. Gill, halfway down the pitch, slipped as he tried to turn back to safety. The skipper could yet break Gavaskar's record should India have a second innings. Sai Sudharsan was 28 not out when the rain came again, with Josh Tongue and Jamie Overton -- two of England's three recalled quicks along with Atkinson -- too often wayward. Earlier, England took two wickets after Ollie Pope, leading the hosts in place of injured captain Ben Stokes, won the toss on his Surrey home ground. It was not long before Atkinson, a Surrey team-mate of Pope and one of four changes to the England team following last week's drawn third Test at Old Trafford, had opener Yashasvi Jaiswal lbw for two on review. Veteran seamer Chris Woakes then had opener KL Rahul, who has scored more than 500 runs the series, playing on for 14 trying to cut a ball that was too close to him. A schedule of five Tests in less than seven weeks has taken its toll, with both England and India making four changes to their teams at the Oval. India left out paceman Jasprit Bumrah, who hurt his back earlier this year. Team bosses had previously announced the world's top-ranked Test bowler would only feature in three games during the current series -- a figure he reached in Manchester. -- AFP
Times of Oman
12 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Gill breaks Gavaskar's record for most runs by Indian skipper during a Test series
London : Batter Shubman Gill surpassed legendary compatriot Sunil Gavaskar for most runs by an Indian captain in a Test series. Gill accomplished this milestone during his side's fifth Test against England at The Oval in London. At the end of the first session, Gill was unbeaten at 15 in 23 balls, with three fours. So far in the series, Gill has scored 737 runs in nine innings at an average of 92.12, with four centuries in nine innings and his best score of 269. He is the highest run-getter in the series. In 1978-79, Gavaskar had scored 732 runs during a home series against the West Indies, during six Tests and nine innings at an average of 91.50, with four centuries and a fifty. His best score was 205. He is also currently just 38 more runs from becoming the Indian with the most runs in a bilateral Test series, a record which Gavaskar holds for most runs by an Indian during a bilateral series, with 774 runs in four Tests against the West Indies away from home in 1971 series, at an average of 154.80, with four centuries and three fifties and a best score of 220. At the end of the first session, India was 72/2, with Sai Sudharsan (25*) and Gill (15*) unbeaten. India lost openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (2) and KL Rahul (14) early, reduced to 38/2. England won the toss and opted to field first. The series is currently in England's favour by 2-1. England (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope(c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith(w), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue
Times of Oman
17 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Stokes' absence, changes in Indian bowling, Gambhir-Fortis controversy: A classic series decider in the making at London
London: The final Test between England and India at The Oval will kickstart from Thursday, with Shubman Gill-led Team India aiming for a series draw, which will no doubt make the team walk out of the UK with their heads held really high. Following a dramatic draw at Old Trafford, which witnessed centuries from skipper Gill, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar, Team India will have a psychological advantage over England, whose bowlers were bowled right into the ground as Jadeja-Sundar gleefully chased their well-deserved centuries after sealing a draw. Team India has a disappointing record at The Oval, winning two, losing six and drawing seven. One of the key plot lines heading into the match is the absence of English skipper Ben Stokes, who is out due to a right shoulder muscle injury. Ollie Pope will be captaining England in place of Stokes, having won three and lost one during his brief stint wearing the armband in the absence of Stokes last year. The Three Lions will no doubt miss their miracle man, the man who would take the initiative first and would make things happen when expected the least. Speaking ahead of the match in the pre-match presser, Stokes said about his injury, "I am obviously disappointed, I have got a decent tear in one of the muscles I can't pronounce. We took as long as we could to make the decision around that. Obviously, there is a bit of emotion that goes into this stuff when you find out what you have done. I came down here this morning to give myself every chance to play just as a batter," Stokes told the media as quoted from Sky Sports. But even with an Ashes series away from home coming in November, Stokes is in no mood to slow down as he prepares for the Aussie challenge, highlighting how much the England badge and winning mean to him. "When I am out on the field, I play to win. I give absolutely everything that I possibly can. If I feel like there's a moment in the game where I need to put everything that I'm feeling aside, I'll do that, because that is how much this team means to me, it is how much playing for England means to me, it is how much winning means to me," he added. With spinner Liam Dawson out, Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse omitted, the team will have a solid spin option in all-rounder Jacob Bethell, batting at number six and potent pace options in a returning Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton and Josh Tongue. "That is the benefit of having a very strong squad. We have some good cricketers to choose from when we find ourselves in a situation like this. So, let us put full concentration on the 11 we have out there this week. We are very confident we have the ability to win this game and the series," said Stokes, expressing confidence in the playing eleven. On Bethell, who garnered a lot of hype with his strokeplay and three half-centuries against New Zealand away from last year as a number three batter, Stokes said, "I think being the type of player that he is, where he plays all three formats, probably allows him to be a bit more versatile with where he bats in the order. He will slide in at six, and I am very confident in his ability. He is a quality player, I think we all know that. We were not going to change the batting order at all, so it is quite easy for him to slot in at six." On the other hand, India is awaiting an update on pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah's availability for the final Test, which would mark his fourth outing in the series. During the Manchester Test, he produced his most expensive Test figures of 2/112 and had struggles with his fitness too. Speaking about Bumrah's availability ahead of the game in a presser, Gill said, "We are going to take a decision tomorrow. The wicket looks pretty green, so we will see how it turns out. So far in the series, Bumrah has been the second-highest wicket-taker and India's top bowler with 14 scalps at an average of over 26, with two five-wicket hauls to his name." Gill also said that the call on Arshdeep, who is already India's top T20I wicket-taker, will be taken later in the evening. "He is definitely being asked to get ready. As I mentioned, we'll make a decision later this evening. I will go and have a look at the wicket. I have not had a chance to look at the wicket. See how the weather is going to be in the next five days and then make a decision," he added. Arshdeep has experience playing in England, considering his past exploits in the County Championship. After a 17-wicket campaign in the IPL 2023, he signed for Kent and scalped 13 wickets from five matches. In 21 first-class games, Arshdeep has taken 66 wickets at an average of 30.37, with best figures of 6/40 and two fifers in 37 innings. Gill said that the series has been a "great learning curve" for him as a captain, and the scoreline is not a true reflection of how well India has played. "I think every match that we have played, it was very difficult to decide which team was going to win after four days of cricket. If we are able to do that for every match, for four matches, coming outside of India with a relatively young team, I think it is going to be a big achievement for us if we are able to level the series," he said. Tensions remain high following an argument between Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir and pitch curator Lee Fortis over practice facilities, with the curator allegedly preventing them from inspecting the pitch from closed quarters. Speaking on the matter, Gill said, "I do not know what exactly happened yesterday and why the pitch curator did what he did. We have played four matches, and no one has tried to stop us. Everyone has played so much cricket, and the coaches and the captain have gone and seen the wicket so many times. I don't know what the fuss was all about." He further explained that it's common for captains and coaches to inspect the pitch from close quarters, a normal part of preparation, as long as the person is either barefoot or wearing rubber spikes. "If a pitch curator is going to come and ask us to not look at the wicket and look at the wicket from three metres from behind, that is not something that has happened to us before. We have been playing cricket for such a long time, and as long as you are under rubber spikes or you are barefoot, you are allowed to look at the wicket from close quarters, and that is the job of the coach and the captain. So I do not know why the curator did not let us or did not allow us to do that. It is not the first time that we were having a look at the wicket," he added. Will this controversy and resultant tension get reflected in the team's play and give Team India the victory they have been looking for? Only time will tell. England's Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Josh Tongue
