Washington Sundar provides much-needed double strike for India in Manchester Test

Overview

• Washington Sundar provided a double strike for India in the first innings of the Manchester Test
• The right-arm off-spinner claimed the wickets of Ollie Pope and Harry Brook in quick succession
• However, England continued to dominate the match and proceeded towards gaining a big lead

Washington Sundar provided a double strike for India in the first innings of the Manchester Test. The right-arm off-spinner claimed the wickets of Ollie Pope and Harry Brook in quick succession. However, England continued to dominate the match and proceeded towards gaining a big lead in the first innings of the Old Trafford Test.

India batted first and managed to post 358 runs on the board, thanks to fifty-plus scores from Yashasvi Jaiswal, Sai Sudharsan, and Rishabh Pant. In reply to it, England laid a great foundation to their innings, thanks to a great opening partnership of 166 runs between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. While the former scored 84(113), the latter managed 94(100), before getting dismissed.

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What followed was the partnership between Joe Root and Ollie Pope for the third wicket, which slowly but steadily started to take the game away from India. The duo framed a partnership of 144 runs for the third wicket and ensured England got close to leveling scores. That's when Sundar was introduced to the attack for the first time in the match.

Joe Root continues to put England in the driver's seat in the Manchester Test

The right-arm spinner wasted no time, as he induced the outside edge of Pope's willow. KL Rahul in the first slip made no mistake and claimed the catch. Soon, Sundar was against Harry Brook, who looked to step out of the crease to counter the right-arm off-spinner. 

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Sundar recognized the move and beat his outside edge, as Dhruv Jurel stumped Brook. While Sundar provided the double strike, England continued to torment the visiting side, as they scored 394/4 by the end of the 92nd over to gain a lead of 36 runs. Root and Ben Stokes were unbeaten at 98 and 21, respectively.