India's Rishabh Pant in action.
Credit: Reuters Photo
India has achieved a milestone in the ongoing Test against England at Headingley that had remained untouched since it began playing Test cricket way back in 1932.
This was the first time that an Indian team managed to pile up five Test tons in a single match. In the first innings, captain Shubman Gill (147), opener Yashasvi Jaiswal (101), and vice-captain Rishabh Pant (134) heaped miseries on the English bowling attack.
They continued their assault in the second innings, with Pant once again scoring a ton (118) and K L Rahul played as the decisive peg of the Indian batting with his calm and measured 137 off 247 deliveries.
This is the sixth time in the history of the game that a team has achieved this milestone. It is also the second time ever that a team scored five tons in an away Test match.
The first team to do so were Australia, back in 1955 against the West Indies.
Pant himself has scripted a personal record by being only the second wicketkeeper ever to score two tons in two innings of a Test match.
The Headindley Test was interestingly poised on Monday with India setting the hosts a tricky 371-run target for victory, while Ben Stokes' side began the chase expertly on day four with openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett erasing 21 runs from the total.
"Blockbuster finish waiting tomorrow. There's definitely going to be a result. That's what England have said openly and it gives us the opportunity to pick up 10 wickets," said Rahul.
England pacer Josh Tongue, who ran through the tail to return figures of 3/72, said the first 30-40 minutes in the opening session on the final day would be crucial but the general feeling in the team was to go for victory.
"Go for the chase tomorrow, that's the messaging in the dressing room. There's no reason we can't chase it down. Hopefully we won't be in a situation to play out for a draw. See where we are at lunch and calculate," he said.
England have to chase down 371 in 90 overs on the last day of the match.
With PTI inputs