England struggle to take wickets as India stretch lead at Headingley
Brydon Carse was the only England bowler to make a breakthrough on Monday morning.
Brydon Carse struck early but England otherwise endured a frustrating bid to make inroads into India’s batting in the first Test at Headingley.
Carse persuaded India captain Shubman Gill to drag on from the seventh ball of the fourth day but KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant put on an unbroken 61 to carry India to 153 for three at lunch, a lead of 159.
Rahul, who ended the session on 72 not out, offered a chance on 58 but Harry Brook could not cling on while Pant (31no) provided some drama before coming down the gears to support his senior partner.
They came together after Carse made the breakthrough in the first full over of the morning, tailing the ball in and cramping first-innings centurion Gill for room, with his attempt to cut taking the inside edge on to his stumps.
Gill’s departure for eight opened the door for England and in overcast, blustery conditions, there was an opportunity for Carse and Chris Woakes to bang it down.
Pant almost handed it to them on a plate when he charged his second delivery and slashed over the slips off Woakes before India’s wicketkeeper survived an lbw review after missing a whip and falling over and then slog-sweeping Carse on one knee, with the ball landing safely at a vacant fine-leg.
Rahul, by contrast, was a lot more measured in the face of some probing bowling from Carse and Woakes, both of whom repeatedly beat the opener’s outside edge.
Josh Tongue persuaded Rahul to fence at a delivery outside off as an attempt to dab down to third caught the edge but a crouching Brook, perhaps closer than usual at gully, saw an overhead chance spill through his fingers.
Ben Stokes found a hint of extra lift off the pitch but Rahul and Pant were unruffled for the remainder of a sleepy session, with India adding just 63 to their total after some watchful batting.