Pant, Rahul put India in command against Eng

LEEDS:

Rishabh Pant became the first Indian to score twin centuries in Test in England and helped the touring side move into a strong position on 298-4 at tea on day four of the first test at Headingley on Monday.

Resuming the day on 90-2, with a lead of 96 runs, India captain Shubman Gill, who made his highest test score in the first innings, chopped onto his stumps to fall for eight, a second wicket for Brydon Carse. England sensed an opportunity having dragged themselves back into the test on Sunday, but Pant's partnership with KL Rahul swung momentum back in India's favour.

The normally box office Pant started his innings quite conservatively, happy to watch on as Rahul moved smoothly to his century, his ninth in tests. After smashing two sixes in three balls after lunch, however, Pant hit the accelerator and brought out his typically flamboyant shots to all corners of the ground, with his hundred meaning, for the first time, there have been five Indian centuries scored in one test match.

Pant eventually tried one shot too many, caught chasing another six on the boundary by Zak Crawley for 118, but the damage had been done in a 195-run fourth wicket stand, with Rahul still unbeaten on 120 at tea.

Bumrah says 'fate' behind Brook's exit for 99

'He fancies his game and plays aggressive style of cricket'

Leeds

India fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah suggested "fate" had played a part in England batsman Harry Brook's dismissal for 99 on his Headingley home ground on Sunday as an already gripping first Test took another intriguing twist.

The dynamic Brook slammed Prasidh Krishna for six in the first over of Sunday's play and advanced down the pitch to drive Bumrah, the world's top-ranked Test bowler, through the covers for a sensational four.But on the verge of his ninth century in 26 Tests, but only second on home soil, the 26-year-old pulled Krishna to Shardul Thakur in the deep.

Well though Brook batted, he also had several lucky breaks. He had yet to get off the mark when he was caught off a miscued hook against Bumrah in the last over of Saturday's play, only for technology to reveal the India spearhead had bowled a no-ball that spared the England rising star from being out for a duck.

"I think fate had decided on 99 for him, because he got dropped a few times after (the no-ball) as well," Bumrah told reporters after stumps. "But that is not to take away from him. He assessed the conditions well, he fancies his game and plays an aggressive style of cricket. He makes you think he can play an aggressive shot but he can shut up shop as well.

"Full credit, he played really well and we'll try to have better plans in the next innings," added the 31-year-old

Ollie Pope, out for 106 early on Sunday after resuming on exactly 100 not out, said Brook was disappointed in becoming the 14th England batsman to be dismissed for 99 in a Test.

"He was pretty gutted to get out," said England vice-captain Pope. "I think he'd either like to keep it down or hit it for six next time. He was as frustrated as anyone to get out but he plays that shot pretty well.

"It was an unbelievable knock. Even the pull shot he hit in the first over of the day, I was like 'where did that come from?' Everyone knows what a fantastic player Harry is and to be able to put a guy like Jasprit Bumrah off his pace a little bit with a shot like that early on shows the confidence he has in his game."