Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Reuters
Reuters
Sport

Cricket-England in charge at Headingley after India collapse for 78

Cricket - Third Test - England v India - Headingley, Leeds, Britain - August 25, 2021 England's James Anderson celebrates taking the wicket of India's Virat Kohli Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

England shot out India for a paltry 78 and cruised to 120 for no loss in their robust reply to take early control of the third test at Headingley on Wednesday.

Complementing the bowlers' effort, Haseeb Hamid and Rory Burns batted through rest of the opening day forging England's best opening partnership in the series so far.

Hamid celebrated his promotion to the opener's role with an unbeaten 60, while Burns was on 52 at stumps with England 42 runs ahead and on course for a big first-innings lead.

Cricket - Third Test - England v India - Headingley, Leeds, Britain - August 25, 2021 England's James Anderson celebrates taking the wicket of India's Virat Kohli Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

"It's been a great day for us and topped off by being none down overnight," seamer Craig Overton, who claimed 3-14, told Sky Sports.

"It's good for us bowlers to get some rest and be ready to go when we're back out there.

"We know they're a good bowling attack, we know it will still be hard tomorrow, so we need to work hard to bat them out of the game."

Cricket - Third Test - England v India - Headingley, Leeds, Britain - August 25, 2021 England's James Anderson celebrates taking the wicket of India's Virat Kohli Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

India captain Virat Kohli won the toss but was left to rue his decision to bat as edges after edges kept flying into Jos Buttler's waiting gloves behind the stumps.

The ageless James Anderson alone forced three of them in his magical spell that read 8-5-6-3.

The in-form KL Rahul was the first to be dismissed caught behind for a duck, attempting a drive even before getting his eye in, in what would become a template for the subsequent four dismissals.

Cricket - Third Test - England v India - Headingley, Leeds, Britain - August 25, 2021 England's Joe Root Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Cheteshwar Pujara fell for one, looking in two minds about which way the ball would swing.

Kohli has had a rather subdued series so far with the bat and Anderson prevailed in the latest round of their personal duel to ensure it remained that way.

Anderson leapt and let out a roar to celebrate the India captain's dismissal for seven.

Cricket - Third Test - England v India - Headingley, Leeds, Britain - August 25, 2021 England's Joe Root down injured as he speaks with England's Jonny Bairstow Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Ollie Robinson struck on either side of the lunch break, dismissing India vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane and the dangerous Rishabh Pant to reduce India to 58-5.

Rohit Sharma (19) faced 105 balls but threw away his wicket, attempting to pull a shoulder-high ball from outside the off-stump.

India subsequently lost four wickets in a span of six balls and eventually wilted in a little over 40 overs and inside two sessions for their third lowest total against England.

England seamers were rewarded for bowling a fuller length and both Overton and Sam Curran (2-27) were denied hat-tricks by the Indian tailenders.

India are 1-0 up in the five-test series having won the ill-tempered second test in Lord's where heated words were exchanged and tailenders from both sides were subjected to bouncer barrage.

The tourists fielded an unchanged squad, while England brought in Dawid Malan for Dom Sibley, while Overton replaced an injured Mark Wood.

(Reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi; editing by Clare Fallon and Pritha Sarkar)

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.