Tongue keeps England alive after Rahul and Pant tons
KL Rahul gets a hug from Rishabh Pant after completing his century  • ( Getty Images)
KL Rahul gets a hug from Rishabh Pant after completing his century  • ( Getty Images)

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.
(Scores: First Rothesay Test, Headingley (day four of five)
India 471 (Gill 147, Pant 134, Jaiswal 101) and 364 (Rahul 137, Pant 118; Tongue 3-72)
England 465 (Pope 106, Brook 99, Bumrah 5-83) and 21-0)

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 through 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.
Under Stokes, England have committed to never playing for a draw, so their approach on Tuesday could be an examination of philosophy, made more intriguing by a mixed weather forecast.
Fabulous fourth day sets up fitting finale

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.
And what if the weather makes the chase even more fanciful? Do England possess the pragmatism to leave Leeds level in this five-match series?
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 somersault to celebrate. (BBC Sport)

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