Can Pope and Root Lead England to a First Innings Advantage?
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Synopsis
In an electrifying fourth Test at Old Trafford, Ollie Pope and Joe Root's unbeaten fifties are propelling England toward a potential first-innings lead against India. As they close in on the target, the cricketing world watches in anticipation. Will England capitalize on their momentum and turn the tide in this thrilling match?
Key Takeaways
- Pope and Root's fifties are crucial for England's innings.
- England trails India by only 26 runs.
- They built a strong partnership of 135 runs.
- Root has surpassed legends in Test run-scoring.
- Ben Stokes' bowling has been instrumental for England.
Manchester, July 25 (NationPress) Unbeaten fifties from Ollie Pope and Joe Root have positioned England on the brink of seizing a first-innings advantage in the ongoing fourth Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test against India at Old Trafford this Friday. At the lunch break, England stood at 332/2 in 74 overs, trailing India by a mere 26 runs, with Pope and Root not out at 70 and 63, respectively.
This session saw England exploit their opportunities, scoring 107 runs in just 28 overs, further pushing India onto the backfoot as the tourists’ bowling attack struggled to find their lengths. Pope and Root extended the groundwork laid by openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, forming an unbroken 135-run partnership for the third wicket.
The session commenced steadily before Root flicked Jasprit Bumrah to the boundary, followed by both him and Pope hitting boundaries off Mohammed Siraj. Root narrowly avoided a run-out at 22 when Jadeja’s throw from point was wayward. To compound India's struggles, neither mid-off nor mid-on backed up at the stumps.
The pair continued to score off India's main seamers, with Pope reaching his 16th Test fifty off 93 deliveries. Once Root surpassed 31 runs, he moved past legends Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis to become the third-highest run-scorer in Test history.
He now requires 57 more runs to overtake Ricky Ponting for second place on the list. Later in the session, when India finally introduced off-spinner Washington Sundar from the 69th over, Root celebrated his 104th fifty-plus score off 99 balls, marking a fruitful session for England.
Brief Scores: India 358 in 114.1 overs (B Sai Sudharsan 61; Ben Stokes 5-72) lead England 332/2 in 74 overs (Ben Duckett 94, Zak Crawley 84; Ravindra Jadeja 1-59, Anshul Kamboj 1-72) by 133 runs.
Point of View
It’s imperative to recognize the significance of Ollie Pope and Joe Root's performances in this match. Their contributions not only highlight their individual talents but also reflect the resilience of the England team. With the series at stake, this is a moment of great potential for England to turn the tables against a formidable Indian side.
NationPress
26/07/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current score in the 4th Test?
As of now, England is at 332/2 in 74 overs, trailing India by 26 runs.
Who are the top scorers for England?
Ollie Pope and Joe Root are the top scorers, with 70 and 63 runs respectively.
What is the significance of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy?
The Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy is a prestigious Test series that showcases the cricketing rivalry between England and India.
