How England stunned India in the first Test ? England pulled off a remarkable 28-run victory over India in the first Test of the Anthony de Mello Trophy at Hyderabad, thanks to a brilliant batting display by Jonny Bairstow and a disciplined bowling effort by James Anderson and Ben Stokes.
Bairstow’s twin tons set up England’s dominance
England won the toss and opted to bat first on a flat pitch that offered little assistance to the bowlers. The visitors made a solid start, with Rory Burns and Zak Crawley putting on 71 runs for the first wicket. However, India fought back with three quick wickets, reducing England to 87 for 3.
That’s when Bairstow joined forces with Joe Root, the England captain who was playing his 100th Test match. The pair added 200 runs for the fourth wicket, with both batsmen reaching their centuries. Root was eventually dismissed for 124, but Bairstow carried on and reached his second Test double hundred. He was well supported by Sam Billings, who made 72 on his Test debut, and Ben Stokes, who smashed 51 off 36 balls. England declared their innings at 578 for 10, with Bairstow unbeaten on 206.
India’s reply was shaky, as they lost four wickets for 71 runs, with Anderson and Stokes doing the damage. Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja then counter-attacked with a 222-run partnership, both scoring brilliant hundreds. Pant was particularly aggressive, hitting 19 fours and four sixes in his 146 off 111 balls. Jadeja was more sedate, but still scored at a healthy rate, making 104 off 194 balls.
However, once Pant was dismissed by Root, England regained control and wrapped up India’s innings for 436, giving them a 142-run lead. Anderson was the pick of the bowlers, taking 5 for 60, while Stokes and Root chipped in with two wickets each.
England extend their lead despite India’s fightback
England began their second innings with a positive intent, looking to set a daunting target for India. Burns and Crawley again gave them a good start, adding 68 runs for the opening stand. Crawley went on to score his maiden Test hundred, making 102 off 143 balls. He was well supported by Root, who scored his second fifty of the match, and Bairstow, who continued his rich vein of form with another century.
England were cruising at 312 for 3, when India staged a remarkable comeback. Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah, the Indian pace duo, ripped through the England middle and lower order, taking seven wickets for 108 runs. Shami finished with 4 for 87, while Bumrah took 3 for 76. England were bowled out for 420, setting India a target of 563 to win.
India collapse in the fourth innings as England seal the win
India faced a monumental task of chasing down 563 runs in the fourth innings, which would have been a world record. They started cautiously, with Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara putting on 46 runs for the first wicket. However, Anderson struck twice in quick succession, removing both the openers.
Virat Kohli and Hanuma Vihari then tried to rebuild the innings, but both fell to Stokes, who bowled with pace and aggression. India were reduced to 64 for 4, and the writing was on the wall. Pant and Jadeja showed some resistance, but could not repeat their heroics from the first innings. Pant was caught by Crawley off Root for 36, while Jadeja was bowled by Anderson for 31.
The lower order offered little fight, as Anderson and Stokes cleaned up the tail. India were bowled out for 202, giving England a 28-run win. Anderson was the star of the show, taking 5 for 40, while Stokes took 3 for 52. Bairstow was named the player of the match for his twin tons, while Root was named the player of the series for his 737 runs and two wickets.
England celebrate a historic win, India rue missed opportunities
England celebrated their first Test win in India since 2012, and their first in Hyderabad since 1977. They also became the first team to beat India in a Test match in India since Australia in 2017. The win gave them a 1-0 lead in the five-match series, and boosted their chances of qualifying for the World Test Championship final.
India, on the other hand, were left to rue their missed opportunities, especially in the field. They dropped several catches, missed run-out chances, and gave away too many extras. Their bowling lacked penetration and consistency, while their batting failed to cope with the pressure of a big chase. They will have to regroup and bounce back in the second Test, which starts on February 2 in Visakhapatnam.
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