IND vs ENG, 1st Test: Pope’s 196 Sets Stage, Hartley Spins England to Thrilling 28-Run Victory

Hyderabad: A sensational spin bowling debut from Tom Hartley (7/62) propelled England to a thrilling 28-run victory over India in the opening Test, handing the visitors a crucial 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Chasing a modest target of 231, India crumbled from a promising 95/3 at tea to be bundled out for 202 in 69.2 overs, succumbing to Hartley’s relentless wicket-taking magic.

Earlier in the day, resuming on 316/6, England added 104 runs to their overnight score, thanks largely to Ollie Pope’s monumental 196. The elegant right-hander finally departed after a near six-hour vigil, his knock the bedrock of England’s imposing 420. Jasprit Bumrah (4/41) and Ravichandran Ashwin (3/126) shared seven wickets for India, but their efforts proved insufficient in the face of England’s batting might.

With the stage set for a tense final day, India started cautiously, reaching lunch at 95/3 at tea. However, the post-tea session belonged entirely to Hartley. The uncapped spinner ripped through the Indian middle order, claiming crucial wickets at regular intervals. While the lower order offered some resistance but finally succumbed to Hartley’s variations and accuracy.

England’s jubilant celebrations were a testament to the brilliance of Hartley’s performance. His seven-wicket haul is one of the best figures ever recorded by an overseas spinner on debut in India, etching his name in the record books and marking him as a player to watch in the series to come.

With the series poised at 1-0, all eyes now turn to the second Test in Vizag, starting on February 2nd. Can India bounce back and level the series, or will England capitalize on their early momentum and extend their lead?

Brief Scores: England- 246/10 and 420/10 (Ollie Pope 196; Jasprit Bumrah 4/41) beat India- 436/10 and 202/10 (Rohit Sharma 39; Tom Hartley 7/62) by 28 runs.