Sports

Tendulkar-Anderson Trophy: Gill, Pant, Jaiswal Tons Power India To 471 In First Innings

England pacer Josh Tongue led a strong bowling resurgence, taking four wickets to bowl out India for 471 on Day Two of the first Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Headingley on Saturday.

India had looked on course for a score between 500 and 600 when they reached 430/3. Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant were both unbeaten on centuries. However, the visitors lost their final seven wickets for just 41 runs.

England triggered a dramatic collapse, with Tongue finishing with figures of 4-86.

Despite three of India’s top five scoring hundreds, they failed to cross the 500-run mark. They will now look to make the most of the bowler-friendly conditions, with Jasprit Bumrah leading their attack.

Overcast weather and predictions of rain and thunderstorms are expected to aid India’s bowlers. Play was delayed due to increasing drizzle after India’s innings ended.

Pant and Gill dominate first session

India resumed on 395/3 and batted fluently early in the day. Gill struck a career-best 147 while Pant scored an electrifying 134. They added 209 runs for the fourth wicket. Before drinks, India cruised at 53/0 in the session.

Pant reached his seventh Test century, going past MS Dhoni for the most Test tons by an Indian wicketkeeper. His innings, filled with bold strokes and powerful hitting, included three sixes off Shoaib Bashir. He even brought up his hundred with a one-handed six and celebrated with a somersault, a skill he learnt through gymnastics as a child.

Gill fell soon after reaching 147, pulling Bashir to deep square leg. Pant followed, becoming one of Josh Tongue’s key wickets. The Indian vice-captain fell lbw to a sharp nip-backer.

England strike back after drinks

Karun Nair’s return to Test cricket ended quickly. He was dismissed for a duck, caught brilliantly by Ollie Pope. Shardul Thakur slashed at Ben Stokes and edged to the keeper just before lunch, giving England momentum.

After lunch, Tongue dismissed Bumrah, Jadeja, and Krishna in quick succession. He trapped Bumrah via an edge to the second slip. He then cramped Jadeja for room and bowled Krishna to wrap up the innings within 23 minutes of the second session.