On day two of the fourth test match against India, England recovered behind an outstanding opening partnership of 166 runs between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. At the end of play on Thursday, the hosts were 225-2, 133 runs behind the tourists.
India scored 358 in their opening innings thanks to a determined half-century from the injured Rishabh Pant, while England skipper Ben Stokes’ first five-wicket test haul in eight years helped put a dent in the tourists’ tail.
As England’s reply got underway, Crawley and Duckett moved quickly before tea to reduce India’s total. However, neither player was able to turn their strong beginnings into hundreds, falling for 84 and 94 in the evening session, respectively.
With one test remaining, the hosts have a chance to win the five-match series thanks to Joe Root and Ollie Pope, who survived multiple near-misses to lead England to victory.
