New Delhi: Joe Root and Ollie Pope rescued England from early blows and forged an unbeaten 109-run partnership for the third wicket as the hosts post 153/2 at Tea on Day 1 of the ongoing 3rd Test against India at Lord’s in London on Thursday, July 1.
England openers provided great start and stitched an 43-run partnership for the first wicket. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett batted carefully against India’s frontline fast bowlers, who bowled with great discipline and didn’t gave many run-scoring opportunities to both openers.
But, the Men in Blue made a sensational comeback in the match after Nitish Reddy took two wickets in one over. He dismissed Duckett with a short ball angled down the leg-side, and he tried to hit a boundary by playing a pull shot, but gloved it to the right of the keeper.
Nitish picked up his second wicket on the last ball of the same over by removing Crawley. He got the ball to angle in, and with the brilliant seam position, it nipped away and also got an extra bounce. The ball brushed the Crawley’s glove and flew straight to the wicket-keeper.
After two quick wickets, Root and Pope batted well and stitched an unbeaten partnership of 109 runs for the third wicket. Root completed his half-century while Pope is batting on 44* at tea on Day 1.
(more to follow)