Headingley Test: Ben Stokes, Josh Tongue claim four-fers vs India
What's the story
India were folded for 471 in the 1st innings shortly after lunch on Day 2 in the first Test against England at Headingley. India resumed Day 2 on 359/3. Once Shubman Gill (147) departed (430/4), it helped England crawl their way back. India lost six more wickets for another 41 runs. For England, Ben Stokes and Josh Tongue finished strongly. Stokes was England's best bowler across 2 days as Tongue finished off the Indian innings.
Stokes
Stokes shines for England
Stokes picked two Indian wickets on Day 1. He dismissed KL Rahul, who chased a wide ball to be caught at the slip cordon. The England pacer then got Sai Sudharsan almost immediately with a harmless ball down the leg. On Day 2, Stokes dismissed the returning Karun Nair for a four-ball duck. Nair chased a wide ball and was caught at cover by Ollie Pope. Shardul Thakur also fell cheaply after chasing a wide delivery from Stokes and getting caught behind by Jamie Smith.
Bowling performance
Stokes races to 217 Test wickets
Stokes claimed 4/66 from 20 overs. He bowled six maidens. In 112 Test matches, Stokes has raced to 217 wickets at 31.86. This was his 9th four-wicket haul in Tests. In 22 matches versus India, Stokes has picked 44 scalps at 29.84, as per ESPNcricinfo. Playing his 50th Test on home soil, Stokes owns 110 scalps at 30. Interestingly, 49 of Stokes' Test scalps have come as a captain of England.
Tongue
Tongue makes his presence felt
Tongue conceded 86 runs from his 20 overs, picking 4 scalps. He failed to bowl a single maiden over. On Day 1. Tongue bowled 16 overs and clocked 0/75. He was effective with the ball starting to swing and seam on Day 2. Before lunch, he dismissed centurion Rishabh Pant (134). After lunch, he was solid, taking the wickets of Jasprit Bumrah (0), Ravindra Jadeja (11) and Prasidh Krishna (1). In 4 matches (7 innings), Tongue has raced to 16 wickets at 29.