England produce stunning comeback to win first Test in India

England stunned the home crowd and produced one of their best ever away wins to beat India by 28-runs in the first Test in Hyderabad.

chrisa

2024-01-28T16:14:16.000Z

Despite a first-innings deficit of 190, Ben Stokes’ side rallied back thanks to an all-time great knock by Ollie Pope and 7/62 in the final innings from debutant Tom Hartley.

It’s twice in two years that England have conceded a first-innings lead of over a 100 runs on gone on to beat India – the other coming at Edgbaston for the record-breaking win in 2022.

Only twice before in Test history have they overturned such a margin to win and it’s just the fourth time in their previous 47 home Test that India have lost.

England started the fourth day on 316/6 before Pope pushed on to 196, the highest second-innings score ever made by an England batter in India. The tourists were bowled out for 420 at lunch.

Set 231 to win, India were halted by a brilliant Hartley, who had also earlier made 34 with the bat.

A spell of 4/24 from England after the tea interval put the visitors on top and silenced the home supporters.

But KS Bharat and Ravichandran Ashwin combined to give India hope and put the match back in the balance. A stand of 78 for the eighth wicket gave their side belief again, but Hartley bowled Bharat with a beauty.

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj added 25 for the final wicket before Siraj was stumped off Hartley to spark wild England celebrations.

"For Tom Hartley to get nine wickets on debut, and Ollie Pope to get a big hundred after, is incredible. But everyone contributed."

Don’t miss England at Edgbaston in 2024. Only limited general admission tickets are left for the first three days of the Men’s Test against West Indies, starting on Friday 26 July.