IND vs ENG 1st Test: Pope's 196 takes England to 420, sets India 231-run target

Ollie Pope (Pic: File Pic)

Ollie Pope's 196-run innings helped England set up a tough fourth-innings chase for India before getting bowled out for 420 runs. Pope missed his well-deserved double-century by just four runs. He faced 278 balls and smashed 21 fours. England resumed 316 for six as the hosts' bowlers failed to make any impact.

Rohit Sharma-led Indian team will now need to score 231 runs in their second innings to win the IND vs ENG 1st Test.

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But Pope was not complaining either as he merrily added to the total as England flew past 400 runs in their second innings.

Since 2012, it was only the second time a team managed to reach the 400-run mark. The last time a team reached the feat was Alastair Cook's England at Ahmedabad.

Pope was shouldered by Tom Hartley who scored 35 runs. The duo made a run stand of 80 runs off 106 balls. They executed the pre-set strategy of playing sweeps and reverse sweeps to perfection to keep the Indians a befuddled lot.

It required a shooter from Ashwin to snap the stand. Hartley stayed back to play a length ball from the off-spinner but the ball kept low to beat his defence and smashed onto the stumps' base.

From there India managed to eke out a couple of quick wickets, including that of Pope to bring curtains to England's innings.

Fittingly, Bumrah, the best of Indian bowlers, ended his stay with a slower ball that dishevelled the stumps as Pope tried a reverse scoop.

Earlier, Bumrah also fetched India's first breakthrough in the morning session, when he had Rehan Ahmed caught behind.

Ahmed, who till then showed admirable self-restraint, chased a wide one from Bumrah to give a regulation catch to KS Bharat behind the stumps.

However, Ahmed had helped Pope to make 64 runs for the seventh wicket that extended England's lead. England's effort was vastly different from India's outing on Saturday morning when they lost three wickets for just 15 runs in 54 minutes.

In the corresponding time, the Englishmen added 72 runs in 16 overs, losing one wicket.

IND vs ENG 1st Test, Day 4 (Brief Scores):

England: Ollie Pope: 196 runs off 278 balls (21 fours, 0 sixes)

Ben Duckett: 47 runs off 52 balls (7 fours, 0 sixes)

India: Jasprit Bumrah (4 wkts, 41 runs, 16.1 overs)

Ravichandran Ashwin (3 wkts, 126 runs, 29 overs)

(With PTI Inputs)