ENG vs IND: Ollie Pope and Chris Woakes frustrate India, help England get lead of 99 runs

From 62/5, England finished on 290 after crucial contributions from four of their six players in the middle and lower order. Ollie Pope, who returned to England Test side in place of Jos Buttler, after a watchful few overs played counter-attacking knock in the second hour of the first session on Day 2 to throw off Indian bowlers.

Pope and Bairstow smashed seven boundaries in a period of 10 balls as they staged a comeback for the hosts. The counter-attack continued through the rest of the first session as they contributed 77 runs off just 105 balls as England overcame the two early blows from Umesh Yadav.

Bairstow played a solid hand of 37 runs before Mohammed Siraj dismissed him after the lunch break trapping him LBW. Pope, on the other hand, continued on his merry run as he brought up his sixth half-century in Test matches. 

Pope's innings tempo ebbed and flowed throughout the innings but he remained determined to get his side to a formidable total and he got enough support from the lower order. After Bairstow departed Moeen Ali too with his backfoot punches, cover drives and shots in all directions ensured the hosts got into the lead with four wickets still in the bag.

An excellent @OPope32! 

Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/Kh5KyTSOMS @IGCom |  #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/KUli5vQjlw

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 3, 2021

But a brain-fade moment from the off-spinning all-rounder meant he went for a wild slog against Ravindra Jadeja only to give a simple cath to the covers fielder. If India hoped this was the wicket they needed to trigger a lower-order collapse, it wasn't to be for them as England players kept scoring runs and Pope kept finding partners.

Pope then stitched a 28-run stand with Chris Woakes as England's total went past 250. India's batting hero Shardul Thakur got rid of Pope finally as he chopped a delivery outside the off-stump onto the stumps and they got their big wicket.

After which, Woakes frustrated them as he notched up his half-century and when he got out England had a 99-run lead in the first innings.

Woakesy

Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/Kh5KyTSOMS

 #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/hccZaDylTA

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 3, 2021