Josh Tongue, echoing his performance from the first innings, emerged as a key figure by dismissing the Indian tail, taking three wickets in four balls, which contributed to the tourists losing their last six second-innings wickets for just 31 runs.
This collapse saw India bowled out for 364, giving the dangerous Jasprit Bumrah an opportunity to attack England before stumps. However, neither opener, Zak Crawley nor Ben Duckett, appeared troubled as they withstood the Indian bowlers until the end of play.
Achieving 371 would mark England’s second-highest successful test chase against India and the second-highest ever at Headingley, surpassing the heroics inspired by Ben Stokes against Australia in 2019.
“To bowl them out and not lose a wicket in the last half hour, Ducky and Zak batted extremely well,” Tongue shared with Sky Sports.
“In the first session, we batted well, and I thought we were a bit unlucky. The aim was to hit the pitch hard. It flattened out during the second session, so we needed to stay patient.”
Beginning day four on 90-2 in their second innings, with a lead of 96 runs, India captain Shubman Gill, who had scored a personal best in the first innings, fell for eight after chopping onto his stumps, scoring Brydon Carse’s second wicket.
England sensed a chance, having clawed themselves back into the test on Sunday, but Rishabh Pant’s impressive 195-run partnership with KL Rahul shifted the momentum back to India.
KL Rahul’s ninth Test ton
Typically explosive, Pant began his innings cautiously, observing as Rahul smoothly inched toward his century, which marked his ninth in test cricket, with eight coming overseas.
After hitting two sixes in three balls post-lunch, Pant shifted gears, producing his signature flamboyant shots across the ground. His century signified the first occasion where five centuries have been scored by India in a single test match.
Pant eventually attempted one shot too many, being caught at the boundary by Crawley for 118, shortly before Rahul was dismissed after tea for 137, slicing onto his stumps off Carse’s bowling.
This led to the Tongue-inspired collapse, where the fast bowler took three wickets and caught a crucial out to end India’s innings. The touring side once again collapsed after losing their final six first-innings wickets for just 24 runs.
Bumrah, ranked as the world’s top test bowler and who claimed five wickets in the first innings, quickly took the ball but found little success as Crawley remained not out on 12, while Duckett will return for an intriguing Tuesday on nine.
England faces daunting odds on the final day, but there is still hope. In 59 tests where India has defended totals over 350, they have only lost once—a defeat to England in 2022.
“Someone has to win tomorrow; it will be an exciting day,” Rahul told Sky Sports.
“The wicket isn’t as easy as in the first innings. They won’t find it as simple to hit the ball on the rise. Even if they form a big partnership, if we get a couple of wickets, we’ll be right back in it.”
