It came right down to the wire in Hyderabad but it was England who won over India in the closely-fought contest in today. England Won the test match By 28 Runs and Team. India will certainly aim to bounce back in the next game.
Score Card : Day 1:
England: 246 all out (3.8 rpo, 27×4, 4×6) || India: 119/1 (5.7 rpo, 13×4, 3×6)
Day 2:
India: 302/6 (3.5 rpo, 28×4 , 6×6)
Day 3:
India 15/4 ( 1.3 rpo, 2×4 , 0x4) || England 316/6 ( 4.1 rpo, 33×4 , 1×6)
Day 4 :
England 104/4 ( 4.3 rpo , 9×4 , 0x6 ) || India – 231/10 ( 2.91 rpo, 22×4, 0x6 )
A Test for the ages saw England triumph after a monumental comeback! On the ropes, after India’s first innings lead, an Ollie Pope epic resuscitated England then bold declarations raised victory hopes. Pope’s twin centuries were the cornerstone but Foakes’ support before tailenders Hartley and Ahmed wagged crucially expanding the target. Set 378, India started steadily before losing a clutch of wickets on either side of lunch including the key scalp – Jadeja’s electric run out. Succumbing to scoreboard pressure, Indian blows kept raining down into the gleeful hands of England’s spinners. In the end, England’s daring paid off handsomely while India rued letting matches slip from positions of promise.
India Looses to England in Hyderabad Test Match
Rohit Sharma, India Captain “It’s challenging to identify exactly where things didn’t go our way. Holding a 190-run lead, we felt in command, but Ollie Pope‘s extraordinary batting, arguably among the finest in Indian conditions, deserves praise. While a target of 230 seemed achievable, it just wasn’t our day. I believe we bowled effectively, targeting the right areas. We’ve reflected on what worked and what didn’t. Nonetheless, one must commend Pope’s performance. It’s difficult to narrow down to just one or two factors. Our batting simply wasn’t strong enough to reach the desired score. An additional 20-30 runs could have made a difference. Our lower order put up a good fight, setting an example for the top order. We missed a few opportunities, but that’s part of the game, especially in the first match of the series.”
Ben Stokes, England Captain “Ever since I’ve taken on the captaincy, we’ve experienced many remarkable moments. But this victory, without a doubt, stands as our most incredible achievement, a full 100%. It’s a first for me, coming here as a captain. I’m an avid student of the game; I observed closely how the Indian spinners bowled and how Rohit strategized his field placements. I’m over the moon for everyone in the team. Hartley’s nine wickets and Pope’s performance post his shoulder surgery were exceptional. And then there’s Tom, joining our squad for the first time, to whom we gave a lot of confidence. I was more than willing to let him bowl longer spells. We wholeheartedly support those we choose for the team. Considering the situation we were in, the manner in which he played those shots, scoring 190 on such a pitch, and his skill in manipulating the field – it’s unquestionably the finest innings ever played in the subcontinent by an English batter. In my approach, I don’t fear failure; instead, I aim to inspire everyone in the squad.”
Ollie Pope, Player of the Match: “Absolutely, this is my best knock, without a doubt. Coming to India, which is the toughest place for a batter, and starting the series like this, this innings stands head and shoulders above my other four hundreds. I admit I had a bit of luck in the second innings. There were a few moments where I played and missed. My focus was on covering the inside edge, and I stayed committed to that mindset throughout. I wanted to maintain a positive approach, especially with my sweep and reverse sweep shots.”
