Category Sports News

First Rothesay Test, Headingley (day four of five)

India 471 (Gill 147, Pant 134, Jaiswal 101) & 364 (Rahul 137, Pant 118; Tongue 3-72)

England 465 (Pope 106, Brook 99, Bumrah 5-83) & 21-0

England need 350 more runs, India need 10 wickets

India were given the upper hand by wonderful centuries from KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant before Josh Tongue’s devastating burst kept England in the first Test.

Opener Rahul stroked a classical 137 and Pant a typically entertaining 118, putting India on course for a fourth-day declaration.

But Tongue took three wickets in four deliveries to help dismiss India for 364, setting England 371 to win. India lost their last six wickets for 31 runs.

Faced with pulling off their second-highest successful chase in a Test, England survived six overs on Monday, three bowled by Jasprit Bumrah. The hosts are 21-0.

It sets up the prospect of a grandstand finale on Tuesday with all four results possible. It could be another Headingley classic.

Left-hander Pant became only the second batter to make hundreds in each innings in a Test on this ground and the second wicketkeeper to do so anywhere.

Rahul was put down on 58 by Harry Brook at gully, while Pant survived edges though vacant slip regions on 31 and 45, Tongue the bowler on all three occasions. Pant also drove past a diving Ben Stokes on 75 off Shoaib Bashir, but it would have been a sensational catch.

This ground has history for extraordinary finishes and big run chases, though England have to deal with a pitch that is increasingly producing venomous bounce from a length.

Just when this fabulous, fluctuating Test looked to have taken a decisive direction, it turned again. India are strong favourites, even if England chased 378 to beat them at Edgbaston three years ago.

Much of the day belonged to Rahul and Pant. What made their batting all the more impressive was the way they survived the morning session, when England collectively produced their best bowling spell of the match.

After Shubman Gill chopped Brydon Carse on to his stumps from the seventh ball of the day, India were three down and 98 ahead.

The lead was 129 when Brook, arguably England’s best fielder, put down Rahul, while England’s post-lunch tactics were bizarre and not in keeping with Stokes’ usual aggression.

Needing wickets to get into the game, Tongue bowled to Pant without any slips. The first edge went through first slip, so England put a catcher there. The next edge went through second slip.

If England deserve criticism for missing chances, they deserve praise for hanging in the contest. Tongue blew away the lower order to keep the target within reach.

England opted for this scenario when they chose to field first. They now attempt a pursuit on a ground that has produced six successful chases in excess of 250 – only the Melbourne Cricket Ground has had more in Test cricket. Four of those six chases in Leeds have come in the past eight years.

Given England’s regular rate of scoring, a dry day on Tuesday should give them enough time. However, they will be up against the genius of Bumrah on the increasingly difficult surface.

Rahul and Pant are the two most experienced members of the new-look India top order and they needed all of their nous to guide their team into the ascendancy.

They played contrasting roles in their stand of 195. Rahul, with orthodoxy, showed sound judgement and solid defence. When England over-pitched, he played his trademark cover drives.

Pant battled with himself. There were a number of occasions early in his stay when a swipe, dance or attempted scoop could have been his undoing. He chastised himself and settled into a disciplined innings.

England’s chances came either side of lunch. Only after Pant reached 50 did he begin to open his shoulders. Bashir, England’s least-threatening bowler, was belted for two straight sixes in the same over.

Rahul took 202 deliveries to reach three figures, Pant watchfully took 22 balls for his final five runs in the 90s, yet still had a century in 130. Unlike the first innings, there was no sommersault to celebrate.

He eventually holed out off Bashir, opening an end for England with the second new ball. Rahul dragged on off Carse and Karun Nair pushed a return catch to Chris Woakes, but India were still on course for a lead in excess of 400. Enter Tongue.

Charging down the slope, he had Shardul Thakur edge to slip and, next ball, Mohammed Siraj could only glove a vicious bouncer behind. Bumrah survived the hat-trick ball then lost his middle stump trying to slog the next.

The lead when the ninth wicket fell was 355. It said everything about India’s opinion of their advantage that Ravindra Jadeja farmed the strike from number 11 Prasidh Krishna, eking out runs and eating up time before Krishna was well held by a tumbling Tongue at deep mid-wicket off Bashir.

England bowler Josh Tongue, speaking to Test Match Special: “A really grinding day.

“I don’t mind bowling at the tail, all I tried to do was hit the ground hard. I’m happy to do any role in the team.

“It’s been a great game of cricket. It’s all been positive in the changing room, there’s been no negativity at all, hopefully we can get through the line.”

India opener KL Rahul, speaking to Sky Sports: “It’s a blockbuster finish waiting tomorrow.

“At this stage of cricket I’m at, I’m a lot more calm in my head and not chasing numbers.

“Someone’s got to win tomorrow, it’ll be an interesting day. The wicket is not as easy as the first innings, they won’t find it as easy to hit the ball on the rise.”

Former England spinner Phil Tufnell on TMS: “Let’s hope the rain stays away because it will be a cracker of a day five if it does.”

Britain’s Dan Evans says he is “the most confident I have been on grass for a long time” after sealing his second win over a top-50 player in as many weeks.

The 35-year-old, playing as a wildcard entry at Eastbourne, beat world number 49 Miomir Kecmanovic 3-6 6-4 6-4 in two hours and nine minutes.

It provides further encouragement for the former British number one, who recently regained his place in the world’s top 200 and has been given a Wimbledon wildcard.

After beating world number 13 Francis Tiafoe at Queen’s last week, Evans followed that up with a hard-fought victory over Serbia’s Kecmanovic in the south-coast sunshine.

“In whatever time I have left it is a work in progress,” Evans said of his recent performances.

Kecmanovic broke Evans twice in the 39-minute first set, but the Briton hit back at the start of the second, and celebrated with a massive fist pump.

Evans raised his game in the second set, getting 80% of his first serves in compared with 63% in the first and recording four aces. After being denied three set points, he took the fourth to force a decider.

He needed treatment to his right foot before third set commenced, but then broke Kecmanovic in the first game with a timely stroke of luck – the ball catching the net cord and dropping dead over the other side as the Serb could only look on exasperated.

Both men were below their best in the decider exchanging four successive breaks of serve, however Evans eventually held his nerve to serve out the match.

Ultimately he was more consistent than his higher-ranked opponent – Kecmanovic hit 33 winners to Evans’ 22, but the Serb’s 42 unforced errors were almost double the number made by the Briton.

Evans will play American second seed Tommy Paul in the next round.

It was good news for the Britons in the women’s singles too, as UK number five Francesca Jones beat Belgium’s Greet Minnen 6-4 7-5.

There was a major upset elsewhere in the women’s competition as top seed Daria Kasatkina was dumped out in round one by world number 46 Lulu Sun.

Reigning champion Kasatkina, representing Australia, was defeated 7-5 2-6 6-3 by the New Zealander.

Amid strong winds in Eastbourne, Kasatkina was badly out of sorts with 11 double faults.

“I was just going to give it my all, the conditions were tricky so anything could happen – the ball was swirling around!” said former Wimbledon quarter-finalist Sun.

Earlier at Eastbourne, highly rated Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca claimed his first ATP Tour win on grass by beating Zizou Bergs of Belgium in three sets.

Fonseca, 18, recovered from a bruising tie-break defeat in the opening set to claim nine consecutive games on his way to beating Bergs 6-7 6-0 6-3 in two hours and seven minutes.

The hype is continuing around the youngster labelled Brazil’s newest sporting superstar. Fonseca, ranked a career-high 57th in the world, attracted global attention by beating Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open in January and has admirers including Novak Djokovic.

He will have another chance to test himself against the world’s best in the second round at Eastbourne, where he will face reigning champion and top seed Taylor Fritz.

“I’m very happy to win my first match on grass,” Fonseca said after his victory. “Eastbourne is such a nice place.

“In the second set, he was in trouble and I was more confident. In the third we were both nervous, so I just needed to focus on my serve.

The first set lasted 66 minutes and was dominated by the serve without a single break point until the tie-break, which Bergs won 10-8.

However the Belgian’s level significantly dropped in the second set as Fonseca raced to 6-0 in 24 minutes, scoring 25 points to Bergs’ eight.

Bergs briefly halted Fonseca’s momentum in the deciding set, but a perfectly measured half-volley forehand dink across court moved the teenager 4-2 ahead before he served out the match.

Elsewhere, four-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one Naomi Osaka continued her Wimbledon preparations by beating Olga Danilovic 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-4) in Bad Homburg.

Britain’s Dan Evans says he is “the most confident I have been on grass for a long time” after sealing his second win over a top-50 player in as many weeks.

The 35-year-old, playing as a wildcard entry at Eastbourne, beat world number 49 Miomir Kecmanovic 3-6 6-4 6-4 in two hours and nine minutes.

It provides further encouragement for the former British number one, who recently regained his place in the world’s top 200 and has been given a Wimbledon wildcard.

After beating world number 13 Francis Tiafoe at Queen’s last week, Evans followed that up with a hard-fought victory over Serbia’s Kecmanovic in the south-coast sunshine.

“In whatever time I have left it is a work in progress,” Evans said of his recent performances.

Kecmanovic broke Evans twice in the 39-minute first set, but the Briton hit back at the start of the second, and celebrated with a massive fist pump.

Evans raised his game in the second set, getting 80% of his first serves in compared with 63% in the first and recording four aces. After being denied three set points, he took the fourth to force a decider.

He needed treatment to his right foot before third set commenced, but then broke Kecmanovic in the first game with a timely stroke of luck – the ball catching the net cord and dropping dead over the other side as the Serb could only look on exasperated.

Both men were below their best in the decider exchanging four successive breaks of serve, however Evans eventually held his nerve to serve out the match.

Ultimately he was more consistent than his higher-ranked opponent – Kecmanovic hit 33 winners to Evans’ 22, but the Serb’s 42 unforced errors were almost double the number made by the Briton.

Evans will play American second seed Tommy Paul in the next round.

It was good news for the Britons in the women’s singles too, as UK number five Francesca Jones beat Belgium’s Greet Minnen 6-4 7-5.

There was a major upset elsewhere in the women’s competition as top seed Daria Kasatkina was dumped out in round one by world number 46 Lulu Sun.

Reigning champion Kasatkina, representing Australia, was defeated 7-5 2-6 6-3 by the New Zealander.

Amid strong winds in Eastbourne, Kasatkina was badly out of sorts with 11 double faults.

“I was just going to give it my all, the conditions were tricky so anything could happen – the ball was swirling around!” said former Wimbledon quarter-finalist Sun.

Earlier at Eastbourne, highly rated Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca claimed his first ATP Tour win on grass by beating Zizou Bergs of Belgium in three sets.

Fonseca, 18, recovered from a bruising tie-break defeat in the opening set to claim nine consecutive games on his way to beating Bergs 6-7 6-0 6-3 in two hours and seven minutes.

The hype is continuing around the youngster labelled Brazil’s newest sporting superstar. Fonseca, ranked a career-high 57th in the world, attracted global attention by beating Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open in January and has admirers including Novak Djokovic.

He will have another chance to test himself against the world’s best in the second round at Eastbourne, where he will face reigning champion and top seed Taylor Fritz.

“I’m very happy to win my first match on grass,” Fonseca said after his victory. “Eastbourne is such a nice place.

“In the second set, he was in trouble and I was more confident. In the third we were both nervous, so I just needed to focus on my serve.

The first set lasted 66 minutes and was dominated by the serve without a single break point until the tie-break, which Bergs won 10-8.

However the Belgian’s level significantly dropped in the second set as Fonseca raced to 6-0 in 24 minutes, scoring 25 points to Bergs’ eight.

Bergs briefly halted Fonseca’s momentum in the deciding set, but a perfectly measured half-volley forehand dink across court moved the teenager 4-2 ahead before he served out the match.

Elsewhere, four-time Grand Slam champion and former world number one Naomi Osaka continued her Wimbledon preparations by beating Olga Danilovic 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-4) in Bad Homburg.

Sampdoria will remain in Serie B after the league awarded them a 3–0 win over Salernitana following the postponement of Sunday’s second leg relegation play-off.

The game was called off in the 65th minute with Sampdoria leading 2-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate after Salernitana fans threw smoke bombs and seats onto the pitch.

The decision by Serie B’s sports judge to award Sampdoria a 3-0 victory secured a 5-0 aggregate win and guaranteed their escape from what had seemed certain relegation to the third tier.

The former Italian champions were initially relegated to Serie C for the first time in their 78-year history in May before being handed a lifeline after the season ended when Brescia were docked eight points for a series of financial violations, dropping them below Sampdoria and granting the Genoa club a place in the relegation play-off.

Frustration for the home fans began during the early stages of the second leg when Gian Marco Ferrari thought he had scored the opener before the goal was ruled out for handball.

Four minutes, later Massimo Coda handed the visitors the lead before Giuseppe Sibilli made it 4-0 on aggregate just after the break.

The home fans in Salerno immediately turned on their team following the second goal, with relegation to Serie C looking all but certain, as flares, firecrackers and chairs were thrown on to the field.

Sampdoria will remain in Serie B after the league awarded them a 3–0 win over Salernitana following the postponement of Sunday’s second leg relegation play-off.

The game was called off in the 65th minute with Sampdoria leading 2-0 on the night and 4-0 on aggregate after Salernitana fans threw smoke bombs and seats onto the pitch.

The decision by Serie B’s sports judge to award Sampdoria a 3-0 victory secured a 5-0 aggregate win and guaranteed their escape from what had seemed certain relegation to the third tier.

The former Italian champions were initially relegated to Serie C for the first time in their 78-year history in May before being handed a lifeline after the season ended when Brescia were docked eight points for a series of financial violations, dropping them below Sampdoria and granting the Genoa club a place in the relegation play-off.

Frustration for the home fans began during the early stages of the second leg when Gian Marco Ferrari thought he had scored the opener before the goal was ruled out for handball.

Four minutes, later Massimo Coda handed the visitors the lead before Giuseppe Sibilli made it 4-0 on aggregate just after the break.

The home fans in Salerno immediately turned on their team following the second goal, with relegation to Serie C looking all but certain, as flares, firecrackers and chairs were thrown on to the field.