KL Rahul drives en route to completing his half-century against England on the fourth day of the Leeds Test.
Credit: Reuters Photo
KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant dug deeply as India recovered from the early loss of skipper Shubman Gill to reach 153 for three at lunch on day four of the opening Test against England at Headingley in Leeds on Monday.
The visitors now lead by 159 runs with opener Rahul (72 batting) and Pant (31 batting) at the crease.
With the wicket providing plenty of assistance to the pacers, first innings centurion Gill could add just two runs to his overnight score to be dismissed by pacer Brydon Carse.
Resuming at 90 for two, with a lead of 96, Gill, who made his highest Test score in the first innings, chopped onto his stumps to fall for eight, a second wicket for Carse.
The England quick sent in a good-length ball, which jagged back in sharply to catch Gill by surprise. The delivery took a thick inside edge before crashing onto the stumps.
However, Rahul and Pant played cautiously, weathering the early freshness of the wicket with a gritty 61-run partnership for the fourth wicket.
England continued to create chances though. Rahul was dropped by Harry Brook on 58 after reaching his 18th Test half century and Pant survived a DRS review for lbw.
The pair played cautiously but kept the scoreboard ticking to extend India's lead beyond 150.
(With Agency inputs)