Opener Zak Crawley showcased a half-century, yet a stellar five-wicket performance by Kuldeep Yadav, supported by dominant Indian spinners, limited England to 194/8 by the end of the second session on day one of the fifth and final Test in Dharamsala. As Tea was called, Ben Foakes (8*) and Shoaib Bashir (5*) remained unbeaten for England.
Starting the second session at 100/2, with Crawley (61*) standing strong, England faced a formidable challenge from Indian spinners. Kuldeep Yadav secured a breakthrough, dismissing Crawley for 79. Jonny Bairstow’s aggressive contribution was halted by Kuldeep, who continued to dismantle the English middle-order. Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin also claimed crucial wickets. Kuldeep completed his five-wicket haul by removing England skipper Ben Stokes for a duck.
At the conclusion of the second session, England was left with two wickets to go, poised near the 200-run mark. Kuldeep Yadav’s remarkable 5/72 made him the standout bowler for India, while Ashwin (2/39) and Jadeja also contributed to the spin dominance.
Earlier, in the first session, opener Zak Crawley’s attacking half-century, along with a substantial partnership with Ben Duckett, propelled England to 100/2 at lunch. Crawley’s aggressive play, including nine fours and a six, marked the first session’s highlight. Duckett’s dismissal by Kuldeep Yadav and Ollie Pope’s subsequent stumping disrupted England’s promising start. By the end of the first session, Kuldeep Yadav claimed two crucial wickets, with figures of 2/22.
The Test match in Dharamshala continues with England striving to build a competitive total, while India aims to capitalize on the spin-friendly conditions, showcasing a balanced bowling attack.
