England and India played an exciting first day of the second test at Lord’s. India took some preliminary weeks, but Joe Root led England’s fightback with a brilliant 99. Ollie Pope also played well and added a stable 66. Together, he helped England reach 302 races for 7 weeks by the end of the day. Although India Bowles bowled well, England went with confidence and used it.
India Start Strong in Swinging Conditions at Lord’s
The day began with a cloudy sky, which was perfect for swing bowling. India won the toss and chose to bowl first. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj used the moving ball a lot. Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley were introduced to England, but it was difficult to settle down. Bumrah found Duckett with one edge for the keeper quickly.
Then Crawley played some good shots and was so confident. But Siraj delivered a great delivery and also dropped it. England was 47 for 2, and India had taken over. However, he came to Joe Root at number 4 and began to stabilize the innings.
Joe Root Shines Again at Lord’s with a Brilliant 99
Joe Root once again showed his class at Lord’s. He became confident and helped to fix England by creating a strong partnership with Ollie Pope. Root played with cool footwork, perfect timing, and smart shots. Although India bowled tightly, Root handled him easily.
He came steadily in half a century and looked clear in a century at Lord’s. He chose his shots carefully, rotated the strike, and found holes in the field. But unfortunately, when he was 99, a mix with the pope led to an exit. The root was stuck in the middle of the track, and India made no mistake with the exit.
This was a painful moment when Root remembered his 31st test hundred with only one race. Still, the mob gave him a permanent ovation. Of 123 balls, he had a 99 England key and kept the laps strong.
Ollie Pope Makes Strong Comeback with Solid 66
Ollie Pope returned to the team after an injury and wanted to prove. He did the same by scoring 66 with confidence. He fought patiently and attacked when needed, especially against India’s spinners. Pope did a good job with Joe Root, and together they added 138 important runs.
Pope played smart shots, especially on the off-page. He remained calm even after the other weights fell. But when Bowler Jasprit Bumrah got a quick ball, he came back and dropped him out of LBW. Still, the pope had already done his work. His round accelerated England and made it difficult for India’s bowlers to maintain the pressure.
Indian Bowlers Start Well but Lose Grip Later
India’s bowlers started strongly on the day, using the first turn for the England flags. Jasprit Bumrah was the best bowler and took three big wickets, Pope and Harry Brook. He bowled with speed and aggression throughout the day.
At first Bowlet Mohammad Sirj with good control, but later he lost the rhythm and conveyed his races away. Mukesh Kumar replaced the injured Mohammed Shami, but could not have a major impact, and it was a difficult day.
Ravichandran Ashwin played his first match in the series. He bowed tightly and held the race down with his hands. However, he could not break the great partnership between the root and the pope. His battle was interesting, but it didn’t take a wicket.
Hardik Pandya returned to test cricket after a long break. He bowed a tight over, but a little rust. When the days went by, India lost the lead. In the middle of the session, they were unable to maintain the pressure on England, which allowed the hosts to strike back and create a strong total.
India Takes Late Wickets to Stay in the Game
Just when England looked ready to score over 350 runs, India hit back in the final hour. Jasprit Bumrah took two big wickets—Pope and Brook—which slowed down England’s scoring. Then, Ravichandran Ashwin finally got a wicket by bowling Jonny Bairstow with a fast delivery that hit the stumps.
England lost four wickets in the last session. This helped India get back into the match. Now, with only three England wickets left and the new ball still fresh, India will try to bowl them out quickly on Day 2 and keep the total under 350.
England Ahead, But Match Still Open
Even though India took some late wickets, England will feel confident after strong knocks from Joe Root and Ollie Pope. Their middle order looked solid, and with Mark Wood still batting, England can add more quick runs on Day 2.
India must start well with the ball. They need to take the last few wickets fast and then bat strongly to stay in the game.
Right now, the match is evenly balanced. England has a small lead after Day 1, but in Test cricket, things can change quickly. Root’s 99 and Pope’s 66 have set up an exciting Day 2 at Lord’s.
Bottom Line
Day 1 at Lord’s gave cricket fans a fun and exciting match. Joe Root scored 99 and Ollie Pope added 66 to help England recover after a rough start. But India fought back with late wickets. Now, Day 2 looks exciting as England tries to score more and India plans a strong reply.
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