Leeds,jun 23
Historic centuries from KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant helped India reassert their dominance over England, with the visitors increasing their lead against the hosts to 304 runs at the end of the second session on the fourth day of the first Test at Leeds.At Tea, India were 298/4, with KL Rahul (120*) and Karun Nair (4*) unbeaten. Pant scored 118 runs in the second innings, his second ton in the match, and consolidated the innings with a crucial 195-run partnership with KL Rahul.India started the second session at 153/3, with Pant (31*) and KL (72*) unbeaten.During this session, India displayed a much more positive intent, with Pant smashing two fours off Josh Tongue, while KL got two boundaries against Shoaib Bashir.Pant reached his half-century in 83 balls, with eight fours and liberated himself further with two sixes against Bashir. India reached the 200-run mark in 57.4 overs.The duo reached their century stand in 193 balls.Pant and Rahul collected boundaries against pace and spin alike, with Pant displaying the ruthlessness India needed after a low-scoring first session.Rahul got to his ninth Test hundred and third in England, in 202 balls, with 13 fours. After a first innings knock of 42, he was finally able to get a big score.A pull shot on a Brydon Carse delivery in the 65th over by Rahul took India to 250-run mark in 64.1 overs.The 71st over by Joe Root proved to be a massive one for India as Pant hit him for two fours and a six, collecting 19 runs in total. He reached his eighth Test ton in 130 balls, with 13 fours and two sixes. This was the first time that a designated Indian wicketkeeper-batter hit twin centuries in a Test.The fun was finally over as Bashir got the last laugh over Pant, with Zak Crawley plucking a catch at wide long-on. Pant was gone for 118 in 140 balls, with 15 fours and three sixes. India was 287/4, with the 195-run partnership between the duo over.Rahul and Karun Nair took India to the end of the session without any further loss.India ended the first session at 153/3, with vice-captain Rishabh Pant (31*) and KL Rahul (72*) unbeaten.Despite Carse striking early, removing Shubman for just eight and sinking India to 92/3, Team India managed to give themselves a solid platform to go all guns out blazing for the remainder of the match, but not without giving England some chances.The final session on day three was cut short due to rain.Rahul was joined by skipper Shubman Gill, who was unbeaten on 6*. India ended at 90/2.England started the second session at 327/5, with Harry Brook (57*) and Jamie Smith (29*) unbeaten.
