Stokes and openers put England on top against India

Emirates Old Trafford, day two of the fifth Rothesay Test.

India 358: Sudharsan 61, Jaiswal 58, Pant 54, Stokes 5-72, Archer 3-73

England 225-2: Duckett 94, Crawley 84

England is 133 runs back.

England fared much better on Day Two of the fourth Test at Old Trafford thanks to Ben Stokes’ first five-wicket haul in eight years and a startling opening partnership.

In their stand of 166, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett took a sizable portion of the visitors’ 358 and flayed some wayward India bowling at a rate of more than five an over.

For Crawley, the 84 on the ground that he scored 189 against Australia two years ago made a welcome contribution. The world’s best opener, Duckett, crunched 94.

Ollie Pope and Joe Root managed to put England 225-2, 133 behind, despite falling in two overs.

On Thursday, Jofra Archer and Stokes each took three of their six wickets, finishing with 5-72, while Jofra Archer and 3-73 continued their comeback.

England had a great ball game, but Rishabh Pant’s bravery held them back.

After being struck by Chris Woakes, Pant left on day one with a suspected broken foot. He hurried down the stairs to resume his 37-run innings in high drama situations before Archer spectacularly uprooted his off stump.

Bowlers and batters alike had something to enjoy on this day, helped by the favorable circumstances.

The rejuvenated Stokes led England, who were excellent but a little unlucky with the ball. The home openers entered the India bowling circuit in a slow descent down the dressing room steps, which produced a moment of pure theatre.

In the end, England has a platform on which to capitalize to win the series with no trouble.

Pant’s comeback was both remarkable and unanticipated. He landed on the ground wearing a protective boot after an overnight scan. He was still seen wearing his whites in the dressing room, and Pant limped to the middle when Shardul Thakur took the second wicket of the day.

He faced 27 balls and even heaved Archer for six, which is understandable given the lack of foot movement. While he was playing, India added 35 valuable runs.

Stokes’ potential as England’s fourth seamer was a major concern for so long as he was unsure of his suitability. He is currently their best seamer.

This series saw his 16 wickets, which is the most by any bowler on either side. Stokes has taken the most innings in a single series, and he has 129 overs, which is his heaviest workload. There are still three more innings to go.

India faced the second new ball right away after winning from 264-4 overnight. In his first over, Archer again set the scene by allowing Ravindra Jadeja to edge to the left, where Harry Brook made a fine diving catch.

How did England manage to take their next wicket in almost 17 overs? Washington Sundar, 27, and Thakur, who made 41, both showed excellent defense and left well in a stand of 48.

In a 10-over spell on either side of lunch, it needed Stokes to work through the lower order. Duckett had a good chance as Thakur slammed into the middle.

India’s progress was slow because England dropped Pant’s field. Stokes was top-notch in Washington, and Anshul Kamboj was the Test skipper’s fifth five-for. A record-setting 76 matches have been played for him since his previous five-wicket haul.

India’s bowlers had the same level of swing as England’s. The visitors’ poor line was the result of England’s openers, who punished them.

India were constantly drifting into Duckett’s pads, who scored two-thirds of his runs through the leg side despite the great Bumrah in their attack.

Crawley reached a single off his 14th ball after 13 innings. Duckett had 26 by the time Crawley was off the mark, but the Kent man had gotten too busy making drives and clips. Crawley pounced his second ball for a straight six when left-arm spinner Jadeja started.

They appeared unstoppable as their opening pair in their fifth century, but Crawley outwitted Jadeja. When Duckett scored a cut, it was within one hundred and one hundred yards of debutant Kamboj’s first Test wicket.

One more wicket as the shadows grew would have extended India’s fortunes greatly, and Bumrah was given a major boost for the final outing.

We’re relieved because it seems like the pitch will only get worse and worse; we just want to bat well and take a lead. In the fourth inning, it will be challenging for them as well. A lead for tomorrow would be nice.