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India lost to England in the first Test match in Hyderabad©AFP
The Indian cricket team fell to fifth position in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table after losing to England in the first Test match in Hyderabad on Sunday. India dominated most of the match, but a brilliant innings from Ollie Pope and a seven-wicket haul from Tom Hartley ensured victory for the visitors. After the defeat, India has only two wins in its five matches at the WTC and a PCT of 43.33. That puts them behind countries like South Africa, New Zealand and Bangladesh. Australia tops the list with a PCT of 55 despite losing the second Test against the West Indies at the Gabba.
Debutant Tom Hartley took seven wickets as England cruised to a dramatic 28-run victory over India marked by a stellar batting performance from Ollie Pope in Sunday’s opening Test.
“Since I took over the captaincy… it’s 100 per cent our biggest win,” England captain Ben Stokes said.
Chasing 231 for victory, India were bowled out for 202 at the end of an extended third session of play on the fourth day in Hyderabad when Hartley stumped Mohammed Siraj with his left arm, sparking celebrations in the England camp.
Pope stood out with his 196 as England recovered from being 190 behind at the start of the second innings to lead the five-match series 1-0.
Hartley, who took his five-wicket haul after bowling wicketkeeper-batsman KS Bharat, kept coming back to return figures of 7-62 and a total of nine wickets.
“It’s unbelievable,” Hartley said after the game, adding that the victory “wasn’t going to sink in” for some time.
“I’m delighted,” he added.
India came into the high-profile encounter as home favourites, with an unbeaten Test series record since 2012, when Alastair Cook’s England beat them 2-1.
(With inputs from AFP)
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