England vs India: After being all out for 202 runs in 69.2 overs in the second innings, India’s batting lineup was unable to hold on. In the first Test match in Hyderabad, England pulled off an incredible comeback, winning by 28 runs on the fourth day and taking a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Ben Stokes’ team set the home team a difficult target of 231 thanks to Ollie Pope’s magnificent 196 and important contributions from Rehan Ahmed and debutant Tom Hartley. But after playing aggressively in the first innings, India’s batting lineup unexpectedly played defensively in the second, going all out for 202 runs in 69.2 overs.

In contrast to India’s previous innings, where the batsmen engaged the English attack head-on, this surprise collapse occurred. On the fourth day, England had the advantage due to the slow pitch and the pressure of the chase. With five wickets in his debut, finally finishing with figures of 7/62, debutant Tom Hartley dazzled, while Joe Root and Jack Leach each claimed a wicket as the English team began the 2024 Test tour with a victory evocative of 2020–21.

India had never lost a Test match after leading by more than 100 runs in the opening innings; in fact, the lead was almost 200 runs (190). On Day 3, the visitors had a bad start to their innings, but Ollie Pope spearheaded England’s comeback. The right-hander, who had managed only six runs in the opening innings, held one end as wickets kept falling on the other until Ben Foakes (34), Rehan Ahmed (28), and Tom Hartley (34), provided much-needed support. Pope ultimately made 196, but his stumps were castled by Jasprit Bumrah’s blistering ball, preventing him from reaching a double century.

With four wickets at forty-one, Bumrah was India’s best bowler as well. However, England’s Tom Hartley was the most surprising player of the day after a lacklustre first-inning performance.

When Hartley got rid of the dangerous Yashasvi Jaiswal on 15 in the 12th over of India’s run chase, it was a breakthrough. In the same over, he removed Shubman Gill from the game, adding more pressure on the young Indian who is having a difficult time in Test cricket.

With an attacking mindset, Rohit Sharma ended his session at 39 off 58 balls after Hartley trapped him leg-before just five overs into his innings.

India pulled off a surprise, moving Axar Patel up to No. 5 as wickets fell often. Axar, who is 17, fell throughout the trial, while KL Rahul, who is 22, did not leave a mark.

After Ravindra Jadeja was dismissed for just two runs and Shreyas Iyer again failed to live up to expectations by giving slips an easy catch at number 13, things took a turn for the worst. While KS Bharat (28) and Ravichandran Ashwin (28) made an effort to salvage the innings and maintain India’s hopes of victory, their dismissals all but ended their prospects.

SOURCE: https://www.hindustantimes.com/cricket/ollie-pope-ton-tom-hartley-fifer-help-england-stun-india-by-28-runs-in-1st-test-101706439737186.html