In the latest cricket showdown, India managed to regain control with a flurry of quick wickets, effectively curbing Zak Crawley's aggressive onslaught after his brisk 76-ball 78 had posed a threat. Crawley, displaying a strike rate over 100, had initially unsettled India after the Lunch break with a barrage of powerful strokes.
The session commenced favorably for India, with Kuldeep Yadav dismissing Ben Duckett caught at silly point. However, Crawley, utilizing his expansive reach, launched a counterattack, unleashing a slog sweep for a six and confidently driving down the track, pushing India on the defensive and swiftly reaching a well-deserved fifty.
Just as Crawley seemed poised to intensify India's woes, a strategic bowling change by India, bringing in Axar Patel, proved instrumental. Patel promptly struck, inducing Crawley to miscue a forceful shot. Shreyas Iyer, positioned on the offside, secured a crucial catch, halting Crawley's aggressive display.
As the ball began to reverse swing, Jasprit Bumrah came into play, showcasing his prowess. Despite earlier conceding three consecutive boundaries to Crawley with the new ball, Bumrah orchestrated a remarkable turnaround. He outfoxed Joe Root, inducing a nick to the first slip, and followed it up with a thunderous 141.7 kph yorker that dismantled Ollie Pope's stumps. This sequence led to England losing three wickets for a mere 22 runs, before Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes steadied the innings until Tea.
Earlier in the day, Yashasvi Jaiswal had been the standout performer for India, scoring more than half of the team's first-innings total of 396. Despite James Anderson's masterful spell with the second new ball, Jaiswal achieved his maiden Test double century in the first session. However, as the runs dried up, Jaiswal attempted to take on Anderson, resulting in his departure after an impressive 209.
The tail-end resistance from India was brief, as Rehan Ahmed and Shoaib Bashir struck in quick succession, bowling India out for just under 400. In response, England's openers, led by Ben Duckett, initially dominated against Mukesh Kumar, but India made a strong comeback in the second session.
In summary, India's recovery with quick wickets showcased resilience, successfully neutralizing Crawley's attacking threat. Meanwhile, Jaiswal's exceptional double century stood out in India's first innings, setting the stage for an intriguing contest in the ongoing cricket series.
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