London, July 12 (UNI) India resumed the day at 145/3 in 43 overs, with KL Rahul (53 not out) and Rishabh Pant (19 not out) at the crease.
The morning session belonged to the duo, who stitched together a crucial 141-run partnership for the fourth wicket before a sharp piece of fielding from England captain Ben Stokes ended Pant’s resistance.
Pant, who was nursing an injured finger, showed his usual flair and aggression, reaching his half-century in 86 balls with 7 boundaries and 1 six. His innings of 74 (112 balls) was laced with two sixes and eight fours. However, his promising knock was cut short when he was run out after a miscommunication with Rahul.
Attempting a risky single off Shoaib Bashir, Pant was caught short by a brilliant direct hit from Stokes, who pounced from cover and hit the stumps at the bowler’s end in one motion.
Rahul, anchoring the innings steadily, remained unbeaten on 98 at lunch, just two runs shy of what could be a well-deserved century. He struck 13 boundaries and rotated the strike effectively, even as England’s bowlers tried varying lengths and pace.
India crossed the 200-run mark in the 57th over, with both batsmen showing patience and control despite England’s short-ball tactics. Notably, Pant launched a calculated attack with a towering six off Bashir and another off Stokes to bring up his fifty in typical counterattacking style.
The session also featured a series of elegant strokes from Rahul — back-foot punches, square drives, and well-placed pulls — especially against Brydon Carse and Chris Woakes, as he managed to pierce the field repeatedly despite England’s packed leg-side strategy.
Earlier, the fourth-wicket stand had brought India past the 150-run mark in 43.4 overs, with Rahul contributing 17 and Pant 30 in the initial stretch. They reached the 100-run stand in 153 balls, steadying India after early setbacks.
With India at 248/4 in 65.3 overs heading into the second session, the match remains delicately poised. Much now depends on Rahul, nearing a century, and the lower order to provide the team a substantial lead.
India trails by 139 with six wickets in hand. The afternoon session promises high tension as India seeks to build a lead.
