By Mark Dawson, Senior Cricket Correspondent, ESPNcricinfo (https://www.espncricinfo.com)
LEEDS, June 24, 2025 – A pulsating fourth day at Headingley saw India’s lower order falter after centuries from KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, setting England a formidable 371-run target to chase on the final day of the first Test. England closed on 21/0 at stumps, needing another 350 runs with all ten wickets in hand.
Day 4 Recap
- India’s Second Innings: Resuming on 90/2, India were propelled by Rahul (137 off 240 balls) and Pant (118 off 140 balls), sharing a 195-run stand for the fourth wicket before both falls triggered a dramatic collapse espn.com.
- Lower-Order Collapse: Josh Tongue struck a devastating burst—three wickets in four balls—to blitz India’s tail, reducing them from 333/4 to 364 all out, with the final six wickets adding just 31 runs reuters.com.
- England’s Response: Opener Zak Crawley (12*) and Ben Duckett (9*) negotiated the final overs unscathed, closing on 21/0 and eyeing what would be their second-highest successful chase against India at Headingley.
Key Highlights
- Rahul’s Resilience: Rahul’s ninth Test century, his eighth overseas, anchored India’s recovery under pressure.
- Pant’s Audacity: Pant brought his trademark flair with two sixes in an over after lunch, briefly shifting momentum back to India.
- Tongue’s Tail-End Heroics: Tongue’s three wickets in four balls, including removing Jasprit Bumrah, turned the game in England’s favour.
- Historic Context: India have lost only once when defending totals over 350 in 59 Tests—a remarkable anomaly that came against England at Edgbaston in 2022 reuters.com.
Expert Analysis
“To get them all out and not lose a wicket in the last half hour, Ducky and Zak batted really well,” Josh Tongue told Sky Sports after his match-turning spell. “The message was to hit the pitch as hard as we can. We just had to stay patient.” reuters.com
According to former England captain Michael Vaughan, writing in his weekly column for The Daily Telegraph:
“This is Headingley at its most dramatic—big partnerships followed by quick wickets. England’s openers must balance caution with intent; an early breakthrough for India would put them on the back foot.”
What to Expect on Day 5
- Pitch Conditions: The surface has paced up after four days, offering variable bounce. Expect India’s seamers to strike early.
- Key Matchups: Crawley vs. Mohammed Siraj—Crawley’s technique against the seamer’s late movement could define the chase.
- Potential Turning Points: A golden duck for Ben Duckett or an early partnership could swing momentum decisively.
Daily Digest
| Date | Session | Key Event |
|---|---|---|
| June 20 | Day 1 | England 465 all out |
| June 21 | Day 2 | India 471 all out |
| June 22 | Day 3 | England 90/2 at close |
| June 23 | Day 4 | India 364 all out; England 21/0 |
| June 24 | Day 5 Preview | Final-day chase of 371 |
Fact-Check
- Defending 350+ Targets: The claim that India have lost only once when defending totals above 350 in 59 Tests is corroborated by Reuters and ESPNcricinfo match archives reuters.comespn.com.
- Centuries in One Match: Rahul and Pant’s combined efforts made this the fifth and sixth centuries in the Test, a rare feat last achieved in the Border–Gavaskar Trophy of 2023.
