Key events
78th over: India 303-4 (Rahul 123, Nair 6) There’s more than one way to see in the second new ball. Yesterday England tried to cram as many runs as possible into overs 76-80 and lost Jamie Smith; today Rahul and Nair are playing orthodox, low-risk cricket.
“I am writing to complain about all the music references in the OBO,” writes Alisdair Gould. “Like a wasted short ball it goes way over my head. Can we have Tim soon? You could email him about punctuation. Frustrated – more with England’s lack of bowling really.”
I’m honoured to be your frustration ball, Alisdair, even more so because I can’t remember making a music reference today.
77th over: India 301-4 (Rahul 122, Nair 5) Now England go up for caught behind when Rahul pushes at a leg-stump delivery from Stokes. There was a deflection, but only off the thigh pad.
No sign yet of India trying to force the pace. They’ll want to give Bumrah a spell tonight but that might involve a slightly risky declaration. India’s chances of victory will probably increase if they are bowled out with the second new ball.
76th over: India 299-4 (Rahul 121, Nair 4) A big-spinning delivery from Bashir leads to an LBW appeal against Nair, although strictly speaking it hit him straight between the legs. Which means it would hjve bounced over the stumps.
Nair drags a reverse sweep off the last delivery that is well fielded at short third. India lead by 305.
Shoaib Bashir will resume after tea. There’s a short window of five overs before the second new ball becomes available.
“Can you actually see England managing to resist Bumrah for a whole day and a bit on a fifth-day wicket?” says Jeremy Boyce.
I don’t think it will happen but I can see how it might. It’ll be a fascinating fourth innings – England disowned the draw at the start of Bazball but there have been signs of greater pragmatism in the last year or so. I suppose it depends on the target; if it’s under 400 – which is conceivable, if unlikely, with the second new ball imminent – they will definitely go for it.
Tea: India lead by 304 runs
75th over: India 298-4 (Rahul 120, Nair 4) A quiet end to a dominant session for India, who splattered 145 runs in 27 overs for the loss of the maverick’s maverick, Rishabh Pant. He made history by becoming the first Indian player to score two centuries in a Test against England, although milestones somehow feel less relevant with Pant because the experience of watching him is so vivid.
At the other end KL Rahul provided a real-time masterclass in opening the batting. Rare is the innings that has both Geoffrey Boycott and Rishabh Pant purring with approval; Rahul has played one today.
74th over: India 297-4 (Rahul 119, Nair 4) Nair scores his first Test runs since March 2017, when Theresa May was prime minster and Jasprit Bumrah was seen as a white-ball specialist, by reverse sweeping Bashir very fine for four. And why not.
73rd over: India 292-4 (lead by 298: Rahul 118, Nair 0) Root off, Stokes back on, and Rahul greets it with a gorgeous cut for four. The DVD of this innings should be sent to budding Test openers across the globe.
72nd over: India 287-4 (lead by 293: Rahul 113, Nair 0) The new batter is Karun Nair, who is on a pair after that screamer from Ollie Pope in the first innings.
Pant, incidentally, hit 73 off his last 59 balls – and that included an extended spell of strokelessness in the nineties.
WICKET! India 287-4 (Pant c Crawley b Bashir 116)
Pant slog-sweeps Bashir straight to widish long-on, where Crawley takes a comfortable catch, and walks off to his second standing ovation of the game.
That’s a slightly strange wicket for England. There’s no celebration, because they’ve been pummelled, but it could ultimately be the difference between defeat and a draw. Knowing England, they’ll still be eyeing victory.
Nineteen from Root’s over
71st over: India 285-3 (Rahul 113, Pant 116) Pant lashes Root over extra-cover for six, an outrageous one-handed stroke. It’s his ninth of the match, only four off Rohit Sharma’s Test record. That shot is sandwiched by boundaries down the ground and through midwicket. Oh and there were four byes earlier in the over as well.
England have to find a way to dismiss Pant, who has overtaken KL Rahul and is now effectively putting time back in the game for his bowlers to take 10 England wickets tonight and tomorrow.
An historic hundred for Rishabh Pant!
70th over: India 266-3 (Rahul 113, Pant 101) Pant turns down a bye when a ball from Bashir nutmegs Smith. He’s been dismissed in the nineties on nine occasions in Tests, so he’s determined to get this done. And now he has! Pant cuts a single to reach another brilliant hundred – and become the first Indian batter to make two in a Test against England.
There’s no gymnastic celebration this time. Frankly he’s already provided more than enough entertainment, hitting 25 fours and eight sixes across the two innings. Now that he has made it to three figures, there could be a few more sixes to come.
69th over: India 263-3 (Rahul 112, Pant 99) Root tries to tempt Pant with some wider deliveries, one of which turns really sharply after Pant offers no stroke. Pant works the final ball to deep midwicket for a single, which means he’ll keep the strike. And he’s one away from his eighth Test hundred.
68th over: India 261-3 (Rahul 111, Pant 98) Nope, not yet. Pant leaves or defends the four balls he faces in that Bashir over. He’s given us all a lesson in patience and discipline.
67th over: India 258-3 (Rahul 108, Pant 98) A mischievous bowling change from Ben Stokes, who brings Joe Root into the attack with Pant one hit away from a century. What’s the worst that can happen?
Nothing much in that over. Pant, forever confounding expectations, pushes a couple of low-risk singles on the off side. He’s two away.
66th over: India 254-3 (Rahul 106, Pant 96) Pant needs five for his century, which usually means only one thing. On this occasion Bashir keeps him quiet for four balls before Pant dabs a single on the leg side.
Jofra Archer has taken his first County Championship wicket since 2021. Tanya Aldred has more.
65th over: India 253-3 (Rahul 106, Pant 95) Rahul pulls Carse round the corner for four more. In the morning session England had control of the scoreboard; now it’s behaving like an overstimulated puppy. India have pummelled 73 off the last nine overs.
“What’s the record for the most individual centuries in a Test?” asks Mike Jakeman, with Rishabh Pant about the score the sixth of the match.
I’d need to check but I think it’s eight, shared between West Indies v South Africa in Antigua in 2005 and Sri Lanka v Bangladesh in Galle in 2013.
64th over: India 249-3 (Rahul 102, Pant 95) Pant rocks back to violate a short ball from Bashir through extra cover for four. The power was ferocious but he also placed it perfectly between two fielders about 15 metres apart.
As good as Bashir was in the first innings, this feels like a damaging spell in the context of the match and the series, maybe even the Ashes and the universe.
63rd over: India 243-3 (Rahul 101, Pant 90) This is KL Rahul’s third century in Tests in England; he’s the first Asian opener to achieve that feat, and only Sunil Gavaskar has scored more runs overall.s
Now all eyes are on Pant, who has gone ballistic in the last hour. He hooks Carse round the corner for four more; a single off the last ball takes his tally to 45 in the last 23 balls. More importantly, India lead by 249.
Thanks Daniel, afternoon everyone. It’s been a pleasure to watch KL Rahul’s latest masterclass in how to open the batting in England. As batting becomes more aggressive and less orthodox, a classical hundred like this becomes even more appealing. Never mind Rishabh Pant; in the year 2025, KL Rahul is the real maverick.
Pant, meanwhile, is 18 runs away from becoming only the second wicketkeeper to make two centuries in the same Test. The first was Andy Flower against India during that preposterous purple patch in the early 2000s.
KL Rahul reaches his century!
62nd over: India 234-3 (Rahul 100, Pant 82) Bashir continues and Pant takes a single to cover, then Rahul does likewise to square leg. Then it’s back gto the old skool from the Indian keeper, another attempted drive sliced, running behind and to the fence for four. We can’t yet say the match is running away from England because of how well they chase, but the trouble is deepening and, as I type, Rahul drives to cover, runs two, and that is as competent and valuable a ton as you’ll see, calm, unhurried and understatedly commanding. Well expletive batted, old mate, well expletive batted.
So that is drinks and accordingly, here’s Rob Smyth to croon you through the inevitable procession.
61st over: India 225-3 (Rahul 97, Pant 76) Carse charges in again, but we’re still to see him and Tongue, England’s best two bowlers today, in tandem. And, after four dots, he tries a short one … so Rahul chops down on it with a cut so late it’s almost posthumous, and the ball runs away for four. He’s now within one hit of a hundred, and the lead is 231.
60th over: India 221-3 (Rahul 93, Pant 76) And now Rahul is at it, pulling Bashir to deep backward square for four; Stokes can’t allow that, so the bowler must either find a way o holding down and end, or it’ll have to be quicks from both ends. In the meantime, though, it feels like India are making a decisive move, Pant thrashing over the top and picking out Woakes, but first bounce; they run two. Gosh, and next ball, he thwacks to mid-off, where a diving Stokes can impart but a hand. They run one, then another off the final delivery of the over.
59th over: India 212-3 (Rahul 87, Pant 73) Too late, in mine, Carse returns to face a Pant now seeing it, his loosener creeeaaaaamed through midwicket for four, and England are under pressure now – another hour of this and they’re in all sorts. India, meanwhile, though they’ve benefitted from some helpful edges, dodgy catching and iffy fields, have made it through the most challenging period, Rahul’s knock near-perfect.
58th over: India 206-3 (Rahul 86, Pant 68) Yeah. time’s up. A single to Rahul, then Pant waits for a fuller one, taking a stride then clouting six over long on; a dot follows, then Pant goes again but flatter … and that’s six more! “Rishabh Pant! Rishabh Pant!” chant India supporters in the crowd, and it looks like the man himself has decided that by, say, an hour before the close, India should be as close to out fo sight as possible. He actually goes again too, looking to attack the final ball of the over, but this time Bashir sees him coming, tosses it a bit wider, and a flasy to cover adds one more. FAOURTEEN OFF THE OPVER.
“The ‘Kraze for K’ exploded in the 1920s, teaches Andrew Goudie, “perhaps as a result of the enthusiasm for simplified spelling. In 1926 ‘Katherine the Komical Kow’ by June Norris was published, and we still have Rice Krispies, Kleenex etc. Otherwise K doesn’t start many words in English, and when it does it’s usually silent. Gabe Henry’s book ‘Enough is enuf: our failed attempts to make English eezier to spell’ is a good read if you need a break from the krikit.”
For me, it’ll always evoke old skool jungle.
57th over: India 192-3 (Rahul 85, Pant 55) Heat from Tongue, who gets lift; Rahul handles it well, wearing ball on glove, then twizzles a fuller one that keeps lower off the pads, running one; good ball, good shot. So in charges Tongue again, Pant tries a run-down again … but that bounce means he catches it high, edging … through where second slip isn’t. Stokes, who put one in, looks extremely rueful – all the evidence tells us that behind the wicket is where catches come in Leeds – and Pant turns off the pads for two, raising his fifty in the process, before clobbering four to the point fence. He’s enjoying this now, and India’s lead is 198.
56th over: India 180-3 (Rahul 84, Pant 45) Another tight over from Bashir, this time without the loose delivery, Rahul forcing the last of them to cover for one. I’d really, really like to see Carse back on.
55th over: India 179-3 (Rahul 83, Pant 45) And when Tongue goes around the wicket, finding a bit of away-movement, Pant does nicely to open the face and dab to deep third for four. Looking ahead at how things might move from here, India will want a full day tomorrow, but will also fancy two goes with a new ball, one of them tonight. With the lead at 185, they’ll need to up the pace at some point, while England might reckon that, if they are back batting an hour before the close, whatever the target is, it won’t be too daunting; Bumrah, on the other hand… Otherwise, though, Pant misses with another swipe, and however hard he tries to give his wicket away, somehow it won’t quite happen for him.
54th over: India 175-3 (Rahul 83, Pant 41) Rahul stretches a long way down the track to haul Bashir, his hair bouncing agreeably in the breeze, from outside off and for four to deep backward square. Those are the only runs from the over, and it feels like we’re waiting for the next significant slice of action, whether a wicket or Pant teeing-off.
53rd over: India 171-3 (Rahul 79, Pant 41) A single to Rahul, whose innings is slowly, yet rapidly, maturing into one that’s potentially definitive. So Pant has yet another wild mow, misses, and with Smith presumably distracted by the spectacle, teefs a bye. One more one completes the over, and though India aren’t serene, the match is now proceeding as they want it to.
52nd over: India 168-3 (Rahul 77, Pant 41) Bashir turns one away from Pant, then a fuller delivery is jammed to long-off for a single. A further single completes the scoring for the over, and I can’t help but wonder when we’ll see Carse, the best bowler today, again.
51st over: India 166-3 (Rahul 76, Pant 40) Tongue races in, Pant comes forward, and directs an edge directly to where the slips aren’t; as such, he adds four, then stretches to flay four more off the next ball. But really, no slips at all is something you almost never see, least of all at Headingley, and though I get the rationale – a field looking to incite Pant to try and clear it – not even one feels like a mistake, especially after a break. The lead is 171.
50th over: India 157-3 (Rahul 76, Pant 31) In comms, Broad mentioned that England reckon there’s more lift when bowling from the Kirkstall Lane end, which was where Tongue’s over was delivered from; I guess the plan is to rotate the quicks from there, with Bashir wheeling away from the Football Stand End. His first spell was pretty decent and this is a pretty decent start, save the overpitched delivery that Rahul flows to the fence at cover.
49th over: India 153-3 (Rahul 72, Pant 31) Tongue begins after the interval with England needing a wicket but aware that. with the score moving slowly, they’ve scope to work opportunities; Pant slashes at the first ball and misses by a way. Unusually for him, Stokes has gone for a defensive field, presumably seeking to frustrate Pant, and England duly begin the sesh with another maiden.
“Glastonbury recs?” begins Matt Dony. “I don’t know whether she’ll end up on iPlayer or not, but the Welsh singer Mali Hâf is performing on the BBC Introducing stage. She is a fantastic performer with a genuinely joyful stage presence, and good things seem to be happening around her at the moment. She won Huw Stephens’ Roundtable last week, which was exciting to hear, especially as the single was sung entirely in Welsh. Also very much looking forward to Ani Difranco. She can be truly coruscating live. A voice, an acoustic guitar, and righteous anger. Marvellous stuff.”
A rec from me, then: on Thursday night, check out Major League DJz for your Afrobeat and amapiano fix.
Back come our teams…
Lunchtime email: “Reading about replacing letters in music and PJ and Duncan,” begins Adam Clark, “reminded me that the reason Let’s Get Ready To Rhumble has a superfluous ” is because they wanted to avoid copyright issues with Michael Buffer, the wrestling announcer, who’d trademarked the phrase. It’s also an extra four points in Scrabble/Skrabble.”
At least PJ & Duncan deployed an ampersand, unlike, say, Guns n’ Roses.
Righto, I’m off for a break – I’ll be back in around half an hour. But don’t be without cricket in the meantime – join Tanya instead!
48th over: India 153-3 (Rahul 72, Pant 31) That slight delay means this Bashir over will probably be the last of the session and, after two dots, Stokes sticks Pope in at short leg. Pant responds by taking two to third man, three singles follow, and at lunch India lead by 159, having had the better of the morning. How crucial will Brook dropping Rahul turn out to be when we look back at this match?
47th over: India 148-3 (Rahul 71, Pant 27) I guess Stokes will bowl himself through until lunch now, but Rahul is leaving him nicely … so of course, as I type, one sticks in the pitch, he’s early on it, and turns it into his own equipment. He takes a moment to recover, sees out a maiden, then gets on all fours until the dull yet sharp ache inside his lower abdomen that has him feeling like he might barf up his insides or die for evermore, subsides.
“The sound effect for the ‘reveal the mystery pop star’ round of First Class has given me severe flashbacks,” kvels Mark Hooper. “Sounds like it could be from an early Prodigy single!”
46th over: India 148-3 (Rahul 71, Pant 27) And, with 10 minutes to go until lunch, Stokes tosses Bashir the ball, as rain starts to fall; he begins well, with one that straightens past Pant’s bat, and you wonder for how long he’ll be allowed to bowl before patience is lost and hands are thrown.
“Now I want to know which of Darrien’s Strokes CDs Tom kept hold of,” returns Richard O’Hagan.” If it was ‘Is This It?’, ‘Room on Fire’ or even at a pinch ‘First Impressions of Earth’ then that’s understandable. If it is any of the later rubbish then Darrien probably left it behind on purpose.”
I’m afraid acceptable pop music died i March 2000, when I became 21. It’s quite a coincidence, I think you’ll agree.
45th over: India 146-3 (Rahul 70, Pant 27) You know what? Not only is this a terrific Test, but we’ve got four to come after it! Stokes swings in to Rahul and this is the ball he’s been waiting for: he drives to the cover boundary, raising the 50 partnership in the process. Extra bounce then has him fending off towards slip, and a pair of singles follow; England need to try something.
“The pseudonym?” returns Darrien Bold. “Rather prosaically, in my youth I was very good at Scrabble. Also, everyone loves replacing a C with a K – see Kris Kross and U Krazy Katz by PJ & Duncan – and a K (5) is worth more than a C (3) in Scrabble too.”
I guess by that rationale, I’d have been DJ Ba’al Koreh, if I’m being generous, and DJ Attention Seek if not.
44th over: India 140-3 (Rahul 65, Pant 25) Between overs, we see footage of Jofra Archer bowling in the County Championship, and how great it’d be to see him back in the Test team. I imagine he’ll need more cricket in him first – this is his first first-class game for four years – but all being well, we’ll see him this summer. A single to each batter opens this latest Tongue over, and three dots follow, then Pant fences at one … but again, the luck is with him and he misses. India’s lead is 146.
Talking of first class does anyone remember the quiz of the same name, hosted by Debbie Greenwood and featuring … hyper sports?! A disgrace that it was cruelly and callously pulled from our screens.
43rd over: India 138-3 (Rahul 64, Pant 25) Pant cross-bats wide of slip and they run a single, then a no ball adds another, before Stokes finds a little more lift, a surprised Rahul hitting into the ground. There’s not the same sense of danger as there was when Carse and Woakes were in tandem earlier.
42nd over: India 136-3 (Rahul 64, Pant 24) Rahul pulls to deep fine and they run two, then misses with an airy cut; Tongue’s bowling nicely, and I wonder if Stokes will try and get Carse back on so it’s those two in tandem. In the meantime, though, he’s hitting a really nice line, cramping the batter outside off, and the final delivery of the over tails in, but Rahul plays inside it – it’s like he’s got air tags on his off stump, so precisely can he judge its whereabouts.
“In response to the missive from the great Tom Madders in over 39,” responds Darrien Bold – that Darrien Bold, not one of the numerous others – “I can reveal that it is indeed I, DJ SKRABBLE, and it is such a delight to hear from Tom I am going to stick on Come On You Reds in celebration.”
Can we understand the genesis of the pseudonym, please?
41st over: India 134-3 (Rahul 62, Pant 24) Rahul twizzles a single to fine leg, then Pant guides an edge for a four that was a much more handsome shot than it looked. He’s into this now, his tempo adjusting to the situation; India lead by 140.
40th over: India 129-3 (Rahul 61, Pant 20) A single to Pant, who now looks more comfy at the crease, then Tongue goes over to Rahul, who defends twice then glances around the corner for one. England need a wicket.
I should say, by the way, that Come On You Reds features my favourite key-change of all time; behold!