After restricting India to 445, England’s Ben Duckett steals the show with a scintillating century, spearheading England’s strong response. Duckett’s aggressive batting leaves India struggling for answers as England takes control of the match.
Partnering with Zak Crawley, Duckett showcases dominance against Indian spinners, particularly Kuldeep Yadav, with a flurry of sweeps and attacking strokes. Despite Crawley’s dismissal, Duckett remains undeterred, smashing his third Test century off just 88 balls, setting a record for the quickest century by an English batter against India.
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India’s hopes of a breakthrough are dashed as Duckett continues his onslaught, frustrating the bowlers and capitalizing on India’s missed review opportunities. His unbeaten innings consolidates England’s position, ending the day on a high note.
England’s bowlers complement Duckett’s heroics, maintaining pressure with timely strikes to keep India on the back foot. James Anderson and others chip in with crucial wickets, exposing India’s middle order vulnerability.
However, India fights back through a resilient partnership between debutant Dhruv Jurel and R Ashwin, who showcase patience and determination to guide India beyond 400. Despite setbacks, including Ashwin’s dismissal against the run of play, India displays resilience through Jurel and later Bumrah-Siraj’s contributions.
Mark Wood’s four-wicket haul wraps up India’s innings close to the 450-run mark, setting the stage for Duckett’s remarkable performance.
As the Test match unfolds, England’s dominance and India’s resilience promise an enthralling battle between bat and ball.
