England recover from first-day jitters to stun India in first Test

Planet Sport writerStaff Writer28 January 2024
England's Tom Hartley, right, celebrates with teammates the wicket of India's Axar Patel

England's Tom Hartley, right, celebrates with teammates the wicket of India's Axar Patel

England recovered from a poor first innings to beat India by just 29 runs in the first Test, led by a magnificent performance by debutant Tom Hartley in the final innings.

Earlier in the match Hartley had seen his first ball as a Test cricketer launched for six but he showed huge reserves of steel to bounce back with stunning figures of seven for 62 in the fourth innings to seal a dramatic 28-run victory.

The unheralded 24-year-old, selected for this trip as a hunch pick, came into match with a career-best haul of five for 52 for Lancashire and left it a hero after he wrapped up the last wicket in the final over of the fourth day.

England looked on course for a thumping defeat after conceding a 190-run first-innings deficit but refused to back down with bat or ball and condemned India to just a fourth home defeat in over a decade.

Ollie Pope provided the platform with a heroic 196, leaving India with a tough chase of 231 on a worn pitch, and with lead spinner Jack Leach restricted by a knee injury Hartley stepped up in unforgettable fashion.

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