LONDON– Joe Root struck his second half-century of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy series and, alongside Ollie Pope, stitched an unbroken 109-run partnership to help England reach 153/2 in 49 overs against India at tea on day one of the third Test at Lord’s on Thursday.
It was a gritty session of old-school Test cricket, as Root (54 not out) and Pope (44 not out) showed patience and resilience against a disciplined Indian bowling attack. While India’s pacers maintained a tight line and rarely erred, Root and Pope capitalized on any slight overpitched delivery to keep the scoreboard moving.
India suffered a setback when wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant injured his left index finger while trying to stop a leg-side delivery. Pant initially stayed on but walked off the field after the 34th over. According to broadcaster Sky Sports, the injury is not believed to be serious—Pant is said to have chipped a nail and is currently icing the finger. Dhruv Jurel took over wicketkeeping duties in his absence.
The second session began with Pope flicking Jasprit Bumrah for a boundary, but India quickly responded with pressure. Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj bowled a series of maiden overs, with Bumrah even striking Pope on the pads with consecutive deliveries. After 28 consecutive dot balls, Pope finally broke the deadlock by squeezing a yorker to mid-wicket.
Despite the tension, Root and Pope remained composed. Root brought up the fifty-run stand with a crisp square drive off Siraj and later showcased his timing with two boundaries off Nitish Kumar Reddy, who bowled just before and after a ball change. Root brought up his 67th Test fifty by guiding Reddy through fine leg for four, while Pope also found success with leg-side boundaries against Akash Deep.
The partnership crossed the 100-run mark just before tea, shifting momentum slightly in England’s favor. India, however, will take note of the turn and bounce Ravindra Jadeja managed in his brief pre-tea spell, which could prove significant as the match progresses.
Earlier in the day, Root and Pope had also shared an unbroken 39-run stand after Nitish Kumar Reddy rocked England with two wickets in four balls. Bowling with guile and exploiting the red ball’s movement, Reddy removed openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, who had seen out the first hour. Root (24 not out at the time) and Pope (12 not out) steadied the innings to take England to 83/2 at lunch.
Brief Scores:
England 153/2 in 49 overs (Joe Root 54*; Ollie Pope 44*; Nitish Kumar Reddy 2-35) vs India (Source: IANS)
