5th Test: Crawley’s unbeaten 61 and Kuldeep’s two wickets help England reach 100/2

Dharamshala, March 7 (IANS) Zak Crawley’s unbeaten 61 helped England reach 100/2 at lunch on day one of the fifth Test against India. Kuldeep Yadav took two wickets to put pressure on the visitors. England opted to bat first and struggled against the swing bowling of Bumrah and Siraj.

Crawley and Duckett faced challenging deliveries, with Duckett eventually falling to a catch by Gill off Kuldeep. Crawley, however, showcased his skills with elegant drives and even hit a six off Ashwin. Pope was stumped off Kuldeep’s delivery just before lunch, leaving England at 100/2.

Kuldeep Yadav’s impressive spell of 2-22 helped India maintain control over the match as England reached a total of 100/2 in 25.3 overs. Crawley’s resilience and resilience kept India’s bowlers at bay while Kuldeep’s crucial breakthroughs shifted momentum in India’s favor.

Despite facing tough questions from the Indian bowlers, Crawley managed to build a strong innings with well-timed shots and clever stroke play. India’s bowlers, especially Kuldeep, continued to pose a threat to the England batting lineup, ensuring a competitive first session of play in the final Test match.