IND vs ENG, 4th Test Day 2 report: Crawley, Duckett wrest control from India; Pant plays valiant hand despite injury

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The Old Trafford has witnessed some of Indian cricket’s memorable and heartbreaking moments.

In 1990, a young Sachin Tendulkar scored his maiden Test century here. In 2019, India’s hopes of making it to the ODI World Cup final were dashed as it went down to New Zealand in a rain-marred semifinal.

On Thursday, a story of grit and determination was written at the iconic venue as Rishabh Pant (54, 75b, 3x4, 2x6) batted with a fractured foot and brought up his 18th fifty. Pant’s valiant effort guided India to 358 in its first innings before England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett turned up the heat on the visitor, guiding England to 225 for 2.

The opening salvo backed up its captain Ben Stokes’ five-fer - his first since September 2017 - with an opening partnership of 166 runs.

Although neither Crawley (84, 113b, 13x4, 1x6) nor Duckett (94,100b, 13x4) could go on to a century, they laid the foundation as Indian seamers could extract little from the surface.

The expectations were high with Jasprit Bumrah leading the pack, but erring in line and length meant India could not make the most of the new ball. Anshul Kamboj, making his debut, was visibly under pressure as he conceded three fours, while trying to target Duckett’s pads.

Although Bumrah kept Crawley on his toes, mixing the away-going and incoming deliveries perfectly, his plan to target Duckett’s pads did not yield the desired results.

Crawley glanced Mohammed Siraj for his first boundary and followed it up with another through covers. England batters capitalised on the loose deliveries and brought up the side’s 50 in just 11 overs.

Rishabh Pant was greeted by a standing ovation from the Old Trafford crowd when he walked out to bat. | Photo Credit: REUTERS

As both Crawley and Duckett looked set for centuries, India struck. Crawley fell to Jadeja at first slip, while Kamboj claimed his first wicket by getting Duckett caught behind. But with Ollie Pope and Joe Root around, England avoided further dents.

The second session, however, belonged to Pant.

Having retired hurt on 37 on the opening day due to a foot fracture, not many expected Pant to turn up. But as India found itself in a precarious situation at 314 for 6, having lost Shardul Thakur just before tea, Pant limped his way to the middle, kissing the boundary rope on the way.

He was visibly in pain and discomfort, and struggled to run. But he stuck around with Washington Sundar to prolonge India’s innings past the rain-curtailed pre-lunch session.

As Stokes and Archer continued to find movement, it posed a challenge for Pant and Washington. Stokes had Washington pick the fine-leg fielder on a pull. He completed his fifer in the same over when he had Kamboj caught behind for a duck.

Despite moving gingerly, Pant occasionally took a few singles before dealing in boundaries. He brought up his fifty with a boundary through covers against Stokes, before being bowled by Archer.

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