The fifth day of the Nottingham Test between England and India was expected to be a cracker. Both teams were in a position to win the game but the rain abandoned the entire day’s play without a single ball. While England could feel lucky as this was India’s game to lose on day five.
Coming into the final day, India needed 157 runs to win the first Test while England were required to remove nine Indian wickets. Rohit Sharma and Cheteshwar Pujara were batting in the middle with the score being 52/1 as KL Rahul got out to Stuart Broad before the stumps of day four.
Earlier, England won the toss and opted to bat first on a spicy Trent Bridge pitch. Indian bowlers enjoyed their outing on the first day and bundled England out for 183 with Jasprit Bumrah getting four wickets and Mohammed Shami three. Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj managed two and one wickets respectively.
Also Read: Virat Kohli left a journalist stunned with a stone-cold reply
India, in reply, looked in a very good position when KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma gave a 97-run opening partnership but a mini-collapse sent some warning. James Anderson removed Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli in two balls to crumble India’s middle-order. Rahul, though, didn’t get affected by what was happening on the other end and kept scoring runs.
In the process, he notched up his fifty and found a good partner in Ravindra Jadeja. India comfortably crossed England’s total and started getting ahead. But Anderson removed Rahul at a very crucial juncture. Jadeja played his flamboyant shots to race to his fifty before Jasprit Bumrah chipped in with the bat India ended up with a handy 95-run lead after two innings into the Test.
England started their second innings cautiously but Rory Burns and Zak Crawley failed to get some runs under their belt. Joe Root followed his first innings’ fifty with a century in the second innings to rescue his team. Root didn’t get much assistance from his teammates during his 109-run knock. Bumrah removed England’s tail in no time and bagged his sixth five-wicket haul.
Also Read: Aakash Chopra expects Virat Kohli to score runs in the second innings
India were needed 209 runs to win the first Test and started motoring well towards the target. Rahul got out before the stumps of the fourth day and Pujara was batting with Rohit Sharma. The rain spoiled the rest of the fun and didn’t allow India to take an early lead into the series.
Root was adjudged the man of the match for his fabulous batting throughout the Test match.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the final day’s play;
Fingers crossed. They have started taking the covers off and there is an inspection at 1900 hrs. Think play can be extended till midnight, India time
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 8, 2021
England set India 209 to win in the first Test. India's highest ever successful Test run chase in England is 174/6. Good effort by England without Stokes, Archer, Woakes and many other first choice Test players. Rain saved India, again. #Cricket #ENGvIND
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) August 8, 2021
Trent Bridge, Nottingham has so far hosted 64 Test matches since their first in June 1899.
Today is the 4th time the entire final day's play was abandoned without a ball bowled.
7 Aug 1912 AusvSA+
(14 &) 15 Jun 1926 #Ashes +
18 Jun 1935 EngvSA +
8 Aug 2021 #EngvInd
+ 3-day Tests— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) August 8, 2021
Sadly, that is it. India got the honours maybe but that doesn't mean much. Root's century has saved England. To Lords now
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 8, 2021
The wait continues…
Meanwhile, tea has been taken at Nottingham ☕#ENGvIND | #WTC23 pic.twitter.com/jnSVUSHayE
— ICC (@ICC) August 8, 2021
England and India share 4 points each in the first match of WTC 2021-23.#ENGvIND #Cricket #CricTracker #WTC #IndianCricketTeam pic.twitter.com/lvoeLtBdUf
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) August 8, 2021
