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Ollie Pope's composed and unbeaten century (100 runs off 131 balls) spearheaded England's fightback on Day 2 of the first Test at Headingley. After an early loss of wickets, Pope anchored the innings with a crucial partnership, guiding England to a score of 209 for 3 by the end of the day's play. This leaves them trailing India by 262 runs, with the match finely balanced heading into Day 3.
Following a dominant performance by India on the opening day, England managed to regain ground on Day 2 at Headingley. After Shubman Gill's elegant innings of 147, India appeared set for a substantial first-innings total. However, a sudden and unexpected collapse saw the visitors lose their last seven wickets for a mere 41 runs, eventually being dismissed for 471.
Jasprit Bumrah led India's bowling attack with great intensity, consistently creating opportunities for wickets. Unfortunately for India, their fielding let them down as Ben Duckett was dropped on three separate occasions early in his innings. Duckett made the most of these reprieves, going on to score 62 before Bumrah finally managed to clean bowl him in his second spell.
Despite a shaky start to his innings, Ollie Pope grew in confidence as the ball got softer and the pitch became more conducive to batting. With limited support for Jasprit Bumrah from the rest of the Indian bowling attack, England managed to stabilize their innings and ended the day in a promising position at 209 for 3. While they still trail by 262 runs, the hosts have clawed their way back into what is shaping up to be a captivating Test match.
India started their innings strongly in the Leeds Test against England, putting up a total of 471 runs. With impressive centuries from Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant, the visiting side looked well-placed to achieve a substantial score.
However, despite this promising start, India experienced a sudden and dramatic collapse, losing their final six wickets for a mere 41 runs. This unexpected turn of events prevented them from capitalizing on their strong foundation.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, India's top order took control of the innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal played a composed innings, scoring 101 runs off 159 balls and providing a solid start alongside KL Rahul, who contributed 42 runs in a 91-run opening partnership. Skipper Shubman Gill then continued the momentum with a stylish knock of 147 runs off 227 balls, while Rishabh Pant maintained his excellent form, scoring a fluent 134 runs off 178 deliveries. Their centuries put India in a commanding position at 430/3.
Just when it appeared that India was on track to reach a formidable total, potentially exceeding 600 runs, their innings suddenly fell apart. The lower order showed little resistance against England's bowlers, who mounted a spirited comeback. From a comfortable position of 430/3, India were eventually dismissed for 471, squandering the strong foundation laid by their top order as they lost their last 7 wickets for just 41 runs.
Despite facing a tough situation for the majority of India's innings, England managed to regain control towards the end. Ben Stokes and Josh Tongue were particularly effective, each claiming four wickets, while Brydon Carse and Shoaib Bashir chipped in with one wicket apiece. However, Chris Woakes proved to be expensive and went wicketless, conceding 103 runs in his 24 overs. Although India's total of 471 gives them a slight advantage, England's late fightback with the ball has ensured that they remain firmly in contention as the match heads into Day 3.
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