Cricholic
🏏 Session Summary: England Show Grit After Early Blows
Brook Fifty provided the foundation for England’s spirited comeback on Day 3 of the Headingley Test. After losing two early wickets, the hosts added 118 runs in 28 overs, reaching 327/5 at Lunch. Brook’s confident half-century and key partnerships narrowed India’s lead to 144 and brought the match back into balance.
🎯 India Strike Early, But England Fight Back
India started strong as Prasidh Krishna removed Ollie Pope with a short delivery that carried to the keeper. However, Harry Brook countered effectively, stepping down to Bumrah and finding boundaries through the covers. His assertive strokeplay disrupted India’s momentum early in the session.
💥 Stokes Adds Support With Controlled Knock
Ben Stokes joined Brook and played a measured innings. He picked gaps smartly, driving Siraj and sweeping Jadeja with precision. Their 50-run stand steadied England’s innings, though it ended when Siraj forced an edge from Stokes to the keeper.
🌀 Jadeja Finds Turn But Can’t Break Through
Ravindra Jadeja got turn and bounce from the rough, occasionally troubling the batters. Brook, however, remained composed, adjusting with confident footwork and playing a stylish pull shot off a shorter ball. Jadeja’s persistence created pressure, but the breakthrough never came.
🧤 Smith Grits It Out and Offers Support
Jamie Smith walked in with calmness and fought through early pressure. He successfully overturned an LBW call via DRS and soon found boundaries off Thakur and Jadeja. His timing and placement allowed him to rotate strike and maintain rhythm with Brook at the other end.
⚠️ India Miss Key Chances Before Lunch
India created opportunities late in the session. Jadeja found Brook’s edge, but Pant dropped the chance behind the stumps. Smith also survived a bat-pad scare at short-leg. Bumrah returned for a second spell but failed to find rhythm, conceding runs down the leg side.
By the break, Brook had raised his half-century and remained unbeaten, guiding England to a strong position.
🔍 Brief Scores
India 471
England 327/5 (Ollie Pope 106, Ben Duckett 62, Harry Brook 57; Jasprit Bumrah 3-67, Mohammed Siraj 1-73)
England trail by 144 runs
📌 Key Highlights
- Prasidh Krishna removed Pope early with bounce
- Brook countered with fluent strokeplay
- Stokes added 39 with smart placement before falling to Siraj
- Jadeja caused problems but went wicketless
- Smith played a composed knock and used DRS well
- India missed two key chances that could have shifted momentum
