There was prediction of rain on Day 5 which added to the intrigue of the Headingley Check the place England wanted 350 runs and India 10 wickets to take lead within the five-match sequence. Play started on Tuesday on overcast situations with rain breaks in between earlier than solar shone brilliant on hosts. Right here is how the drama unfolded on the ultimate day at Leeds…
First session: Managed aggression
Ever since Bazball period started, England have chased 300-plus totals with ease in fourth innings with the pitches not present process sufficient put on and tear. Headingley was no completely different on this Check the place aside from the odd ball that saved low, there wasn’t something alarming for batsmen to tread cautiously. However chasing 371, England wanted a robust begin and it’s what Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley went about doing. They noticed off Jasprit Bumrah’s early burst and ensured on the first drinks break had 42 on board with none injury. From there on it was all about consolidation as 117 got here on the stroke of lunch with India assault unable to penetrate a lot as they even repeatedly complained concerning the situation of the ball earlier than it was modified in direction of the tip of the session.
Second session: Consolidation
There was drizzle throughout the lunch break, and the brand new ball provided motion in overcast situations as wind too picked up, however Duckett was unmoved. Other than Bumrah, the remainder of the tempo pack as soon as once more struggled to hit the suitable line and lengths, reminding of that 2011-2012 part. Including to the insult, Yashasvi Jaiswal dropped one other catch of Duckett on 97.
Begin, cease, begin, cease
There was a 19-minute rain break as England had raced to 181/0 by then. Brilliant sunshine adopted as in opposition to all odds, Prasidh Krishna supplied twin blows eradicating Crawley and Ollie Pope as tea was pushed to 4.30pm native time. These two strikes proved a false daybreak as Duckett and Joe Root effortlessly ticked off the deficit with the left-hander even enjoying a disdainful reverse-sweep off Jadeja for a six earlier than Shardul Thakur managed two gentle dismissals – Duckett caught at cowl off a large supply and Harry Brook caught down the leg-side off the primary ball as rain introduced early tea with England 102 away from the goal.
The ultimate cruise
After an half-hour break, when play resumed, England began favourites to complete off the sport. Duckett’s 149 had ensured, they needn’t fear concerning the run-rate as India started with Jadeja and Bumrah within the hope of creating inroads. With Ben Stokes taking his probabilities and Root being stable, England didn’t flinch as boundaries flowed once more with India struggling to remain within the recreation. Regardless that Stokes fell, it mattered a bit of because the hosts cantered to 1-0 sequence lead.