Harry Brook makes mark for England but India steady ship with first Test in balance

The second day of the first Test series between India and England at Headingley showcased a compelling contest, with India leading by 96 runs after three days of play. England was bowled out for 465 runs in their first innings, managing to close the gap to six runs. As the match resumed on the third day, India began their second innings, reaching 90 for two before rain interrupted play, cutting the day short by half an hour. The Indian opener KL Rahul was at the crease with an unbeaten score of 47, while captain Shubman Gill contributed six runs. The batting order faced some challenges, with Yashasvi Jaiswal dismissed for a mere four runs by Brydon Carse and Sai Sudharsan falling to Ben Stokes for 30, leaving India in a position to build their lead cautiously.

Harry Brook emerged as a standout performer for England, showcasing his batting prowess as he accumulated an impressive 99 runs. His innings was marked by a series of crucial partnerships, including a 51-run collaboration with Stokes, a 73-run partnership with Jamie Smith, and a 49-run stand with Chris Woakes. However, Brook's innings came to an end when he was caught while attempting a hook shot. At that point, England's score was 398 for seven, trailing India by 73 runs. Despite this, Woakes and Carse launched a spirited counter-attack, scoring 55 runs off just 44 balls, which pushed the innings closer to completion. India’s star bowler Jasprit Bumrah was called upon to finish the innings, and he delivered by taking the last two wickets, concluding with impressive figures of five wickets for 83 runs. This achievement marked Bumrah's 14th five-wicket haul in Test cricket and equaled Kapil Dev's record for the most five-wicket hauls by an Indian bowler in away matches, adding further significance to the day’s play.