Rahul and Pant centuries set England 371 target in Headingley test
LEEDS, England (AP) — Centuries by Lokesh Rahul and Rishabh Pant helped India set England a steep target of 371 to win the series-opening test at Headingley on Monday.
India was all out for 364 in its second innings and, in the last half hour of day four, England knocked 21 runs off the target and survived three overs from star pacer Jasprit Bumrah.
England needs 350 more runs at less than four an over in the last three sessions on Tuesday, weather permitting. Some rain is forecast.
The odds favor India on a fifth-day pitch but England in its ‘Bazball’ era is confident of chasing down the target. If it does, it will be a record for England at Headingley.
Rahul hit 137 and Pant 118 — his second ton of the match — in a stand of 195 that turned the match India’s way.
They played a tight situation perfectly; absorbing intense England pressure in the morning then going on the attack in a stunning afternoon.
They had some luck. Rahul was dropped on 58 and Pant edged twice into the vacant slip area. The unlucky bowler each time was Josh Tongue, but he contributed to routing the India tail again with three wickets in four balls.
One of the wickets was caught by Joe Root, his 210th catch tying Rahul Dravid’s test record.
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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket
