INDIA’S TOUR OF ENGLAND, 2025
Coming in as a nightwatch late on Day 2, Akash added a 107-run stand with Jaiswal. © Getty
Akash Deep’s maiden Test fifty capped a frustrating morning for England, who waited nearly the entire session to strike on a pitch where the ball’s still doing plenty. India added 114 runs to their overnight total, stretching their lead to 166 and tightening their hold on the fifth and final Test.
It was Jamie Overton who eventually broke through with a leading edge that carried to point, but not before Akash had delivered a standout performance. So assured was the nightwatch batter that Yashasvi Jaiswal, batting on 85 at Lunch on Day 3, played second fiddle through the session as Akash raised three successive milestones: his highest Test score, a maiden international fifty off 70 balls, and then his best-ever first-class score. He also became the first Indian nightwatch to score a fifty since Amit Mishra’s 84 at the same venue against the same opponent back in 2011.
The batter got going with a heave against Jacob Bethell, the left-arm spinner who bowled the first over of the day in a stopgap move as the seamers changed ends, and that stroke seemed to set the tone, both for him and for India. He didn’t shy away from taking on pace either, ausing the long handle against both Gus Atkinson and Josh Tongue with confidence.
Zak Crawley dropped Akash in the slip cordon early in the session, his second drop of the match and England’s fourth. It marked the most catches England had ever dropped by the 26th over in a Test innings.
India brought up their 100 in just 23 overs but there was plenty happening off the pitch, albeit not as much as the first couple of days. There was swing in the air, nip off the surface and still enough in it for England’s seamers but Akash Deep countered it all with intent and just enough luck, the kind England have often relied on themselves in this series.
Tongue bowled a testing seven-over spell to start the day but watched the longest partnership of the match unfold. The morning’s control slowly slipped from England’s grasp as Jaiswal unfurled his periscope shots over the slip cordon and joined the party. All that until Overton, returning for a short burst before the break, found Akash’s outside edge and ended a memorable knock that got a standing ovation from the visiting team’s balcony.
Shubman Gill then joined Jaiswal in the middle and looked ominous during his short stay as India walked to lunch with the momentum firmly in their favour.
Brief Scores: India 224 & 189/3 (Jaiswal 85*, Akash Deep 66) lead England 247 by 166 runs.
© Cricbuzz
