Pant retirement deals India blow as England edge back into fourth test contention
MANCHESTER, England - Rishabh Pant's retirement through injury slowed India's progress on day one of the fourth test against England, with the tourists closing on 264-4 in their first innings as they look to keep the thrilling five-match series alive.
With England eyeing victory at Old Trafford that would seal a series win with one match to spare, the hosts put India in to bat in overcast Manchester conditions, but the tourists cruised through to lunch untroubled on 78-0.
Three wickets in the afternoon session costing just 36 runs, including India skipper Shubman Gill, swung momentum back in England's favour before tea.
England spinner Liam Dawson picked up his first test wicket in eight years when he had opener Yashasvi Jaiswal caught for 58.
As he often does, the entertaining Pant upped the ante after tea by playing a number of flamboyant shots. However, all that came to an abrupt end when he retired hurt on 37, having taken a blow on the foot trying to reverse sweep Chris Woakes.
Sai Sudharsan's maiden test fifty, a patient knock which took 134 balls to achieve, had already taken India past 200 before he got a hook shot all wrong to fall for 61.
England could not make any further inroads to leave the test finely poised going into day two. REUTERS
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Judge asks prosecution for more information on Kpods in first case involving etomidate-laced vapes
World In landmark opinion, World Court says countries must address climate change threat
Singapore 5 teens arrested for threatening boy with knife, 2 charged with causing hurt
Singapore Male victim of fatal Toa Payoh fire was known to keep many things, say residents
Sport Bukayo Saka the difference as Arsenal beat AC Milan at National Stadium
Singapore HDB launches 10,209 BTO and balance flats, as priority scheme for singles kicks in
Singapore Over 1.15 million Singaporeans aged 21 to 59 have claimed SG60 vouchers
Singapore Cyclist charged after allegedly hitting elderly pedestrian, killing him

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


CNA
3 minutes ago
- CNA
Xavi application for India coaching job was a hoax, AIFF says
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed on Saturday that a job application attributed to former Barcelona manager and Spain midfielder Xavi Hernandez for the India head coaching role was a hoax. The AIFF's national team director told The Times of India on Thursday that Xavi's name was on the list of applicants. The report also quoted an AIFF technical committee member saying the his candidacy was deemed too expensive to pursue. "The AIFF received an email furnishing the applications from Spanish coaches Pep Guardiola and Xavi Hernandez. The authenticity of their applications could not be confirmed, and it has since emerged that the email applications were not genuine," the AIFF said in a statement. It had not been previously reported that the AIFF had also received an application purporting to be from Manchester City manager Guardiola. The AIFF Technical Committee said it had reviewed 170 applications for the Indian men's head coach role, narrowing the list to 10 before short-listing three candidates. The AIFF sacked former India manger Igor Stimac in June last year before appointing Spaniard Manolo Marquez, who left the job this month and returned to his role as coach of Indian Super League team FC Goa.

Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Women's Euros reach new peaks in Switzerland as final awaits
OBERENTFELDEN, Switzerland - The Women's Euros reach their climax with the final between holders England and Spain on Sunday, but before a ball is even kicked at the St. Jakob-Park stadium, records have been smashed at what has proved to be the most successful edition of the tournament. Before their quarter-final defeat by Spain, Swiss fans held up a banner saying "Time to move mountains", but by then the hosts already had, making the knockout stage for the first time as a fever for women's football swept the country -- and the continent. "I hope it was just a very, very important step to show Switzerland that women can play football really well -- not just Switzerland, but all the other teams as well," Swiss captain Lia Waelti said after the hosts exited the tournament. Fans at games in Switzerland have shattered attendance records, including the highest overall one ever, with the final still to be played. A record 623,088 fans attended games through the end of the semi-finals, obliterating the previous total of 574,875 fans who watched the entire England 2022 tournament. England's dramatic semi-final win over Italy in extra time gave British broadcaster ITV its biggest audience of the year with 10.2 million linear viewers, and another 17.2 million following the game on streaming platform ITV X. Fox Sports in the United States also reported a 176% increase in the number watching the semi-finals compared to 2022 as the tournament caught the imagination on the other side of the Atlantic. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Students hide vapes in underwear, toilet roll holders: S'pore schools grapple with vaping scourge Singapore 'I've tried everything': Mum helpless as son's Kpod addiction spirals out of control Singapore Almost half of planned 30,000 HDB flats in Tengah to be completed by end-2025: Chee Hong Tat Singapore Black belt in taekwondo, Grade 8 in piano: S'pore teen excels despite condition that limits movements Singapore As Asean looks to nuclear energy, public education efforts are needed: UN nuclear watchdog chief Asia Thousands rally in downtown Kuala Lumpur for resignation of PM Anwar Asia Death toll climbs as Thai-Cambodia clashes continue despite calls for ceasefire Asia Shunsaku Tamiya, who brought perfection to plastic race car models, dies at 90 It has not all, however, been plain sailing. The opening games were overshadowed by soaring temperatures that led to worries about player welfare and UEFA suspending rules around water bottles for fans. JOYOUS CELEBRATION There was also the death of Portugal international Diogo Jota and his brother in a car accident, which cast a pall over Portugal's opening game against Spain. In the end, the game itself honoured his memory by turning into a joyous celebration of Portuguese football, despite the team's defeat. The 16 teams in the group stage provided plenty of excitement, with Switzerland's late equaliser against Finland to snatch second place in their final Group A game stealing the plaudits as the most dramatic moment. Fans did not have long to wait for the next twist in the tale, as England came back from two goals down to beat Sweden after a chaotic penalty shootout in their quarter-final. Online critics hailed that shootout, with only five successful efforts out of 14, as one of the worst ever, ignoring Sweden keeper Jennifer Falk's exceptional performance in which she made four saves from English spot-kicks, yet still ended up on the losing side. England's Michelle Agyemang is the break-out star of the tournament, netting two vital equalisers as they flirted with disaster in the knockout stage and playing a major role in getting them to the final. Through it all, the Spaniards have ticked like a metronome, starting games slowly before gradually finding the solution to whatever opposition was in front of them and winning all five of their matches. Another win for the Spaniards against England will give them the European crown to add to their world and Nations League victories, confirming them as the dominant team. However, England's never-say-die mentality stands between them and that goal. No matter how that game turns out, the tournament has successfully sustained the momentum created at Euro 2022, and the trajectory for the women's game continues to move sharply upwards. REUTERS


CNA
2 hours ago
- CNA
Women's Euros reach new peaks in Switzerland as final awaits
OBERENTFELDEN, Switzerland :The Women's Euros reach their climax with the final between holders England and Spain on Sunday, but before a ball is even kicked at the St. Jakob-Park stadium, records have been smashed at what has proved to be the most successful edition of the tournament. Before their quarter-final defeat by Spain, Swiss fans held up a banner saying "Time to move mountains", but by then the hosts already had, making the knockout stage for the first time as a fever for women's football swept the country - and the continent. "I hope it was just a very, very important step to show Switzerland that women can play football really well - not just Switzerland, but all the other teams as well," Swiss captain Lia Waelti said after the hosts exited the tournament. Fans at games in Switzerland have shattered attendance records, including the highest overall one ever, with the final still to be played. A record 623,088 fans attended games through the end of the semi-finals, obliterating the previous total of 574,875 fans who watched the entire England 2022 tournament. England's dramatic semi-final win over Italy in extra time gave British broadcaster ITV its biggest audience of the year with 10.2 million linear viewers, and another 17.2 million following the game on streaming platform ITV X. Fox Sports in the United States also reported a 176 per cent increase in the number watching the semi-finals compared to 2022 as the tournament caught the imagination on the other side of the Atlantic. It has not all, however, been plain sailing. The opening games were overshadowed by soaring temperatures that led to worries about player welfare and UEFA suspending rules around water bottles for fans. JOYOUS CELEBRATION There was also the death of Portugal international Diogo Jota and his brother in a car accident, which cast a pall over Portugal's opening game against Spain. In the end, the game itself honoured his memory by turning into a joyous celebration of Portuguese football, despite the team's defeat. The 16 teams in the group stage provided plenty of excitement, with Switzerland's late equaliser against Finland to snatch second place in their final Group A game stealing the plaudits as the most dramatic moment. Fans did not have long to wait for the next twist in the tale, as England came back from two goals down to beat Sweden after a chaotic penalty shootout in their quarter-final. Online critics hailed that shootout, with only five successful efforts out of 14, as one of the worst ever, ignoring Sweden keeper Jennifer Falk's exceptional performance in which she made four saves from English spot-kicks, yet still ended up on the losing side. England's Michelle Agyemang is the break-out star of the tournament, netting two vital equalisers as they flirted with disaster in the knockout stage and playing a major role in getting them to the final. Through it all, the Spaniards have ticked like a metronome, starting games slowly before gradually finding the solution to whatever opposition was in front of them and winning all five of their matches. Another win for the Spaniards against England will give them the European crown to add to their world and Nations League victories, confirming them as the dominant team. However, England's never-say-die mentality stands between them and that goal. No matter how that game turns out, the tournament has successfully sustained the momentum created at Euro 2022, and the trajectory for the women's game continues to move sharply upwards.