England Dominate with Bat After Stokes’ Five-for in Manchester Test

Day 2 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, was a day of pure cricket drama that had everyone talking. India scraped their way to 358 all out in their first innings, digging deep with gutsy performances from their middle and lower order. England answered with a blazing 225/2, trailing by 133 runs when stumps were called. From Ben Stokes’ fiery bowling to Rishabh Pant’s unbelievable courage batting through a fractured foot, and a red-hot opening stand by Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, the day was full of moments that made this Test match unforgettable.

India Puts on a Competitive Total

India kicked off Day 2 at 264/4, with Ravindra Jadeja (19) and Shardul Thakur (19) ready to keep the scoreboard ticking after a strong first day. England came out swinging, with Ben Stokes leading the charge, grabbing the new ball at 83.1 overs to put pressure on India’s batsmen. Jadeja, cool as ever, played it safe, adding just one more run before nicking Jofra Archer to Harry Brook for 20 off 40 balls, leaving India at 266/5. Thakur, though, was a rock, battling his way to 41 off 88 balls, smacking five boundaries with a mix of grit and style. He stood up to Stokes’ fiery spells, handling the pace and movement with a straight bat and sharp focus, keeping England’s bowlers at bay.

A special half-century this has been! 🙌 🙌

Well played, Rishabh Pant 👏 👏

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/L1EVgGtx3a#TeamIndia | #ENGvIND | @RishabhPant17 pic.twitter.com/qYTRBh4ldg

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 24, 2025

Thakur teamed up with Washington Sundar for a crucial stand, pushing India past 300 runs in 94.1 overs, a big moment that kept their hopes alive. Sundar grafted for 27 off 90 balls, playing smart, picking singles, and soaking up pressure from Archer and Brydon Carse, who bowled hard for 21 overs and 71 runs but couldn’t find a breakthrough. By drinks, India were 306/5, holding firm but under fire. Then came a rain delay at 321/6 after 105 overs, stopping play just as Rishabh Pant, who’d retired hurt on Day 1 at 37* after taking a painful hit on the foot from Chris Woakes, made a jaw-dropping return to the crease.

Pant’s comeback was pure heart. With a fractured foot and doctors urging him to stay off it, he walked out at 314/6, ready to fight for his team. His 54 off 75 balls, packed with three fours and two huge sixes, was a mix of careful defense and bold shots that had the crowd roaring. Pant’s courage kept England’s bowlers guessing, and he pushed India to a solid 358. He fell to Archer, caught by Jamie Smith, in the 112th over, but his impact was massive. Mohammed Siraj hung in there with an unbeaten 5 off 7 balls, including a cheeky boundary, while Jasprit Bumrah’s quick 4 off 7 ended when he edged Archer to Smith, closing India’s innings at 358 in 114.1 overs.

Early Lunch taken on Day 2 of the Manchester Test due to rain!

Play to resume at 01.30 PM Local Time (06.00 PM IST). #TeamIndia move to 321/6, adding 57 runs to their overnight score.

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/L1EVgGtx3a#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/AHbJZ1w0Ht

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 24, 2025

Stokes was the man of the moment with the ball, taking 5/72 in 24 overs. He got Shubman Gill (lbw for 12), Thakur, Sundar, debutant Anshul Kamboj (0), and Bumrah, showing why he’s England’s leader. Archer backed him up with 3/73, including Pant’s wicket, while Woakes (1/66) and Liam Dawson (1/45) chipped in. England tried two DRS calls, one on Thakur in the 95th over and another on Sundar in the 106th, but both failed, showing how tough India fought. With runs from Sai Sudharsan (61), Yashasvi Jaiswal (58), and Pant’s brave knock, India put up a total that gave them a real shot on a pitch helping the bowlers a bit.

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett Run Riot

England’s batting was like a firework show, sparked by a blazing opening stand between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. They got off to a flyer, hitting 50 in just 10.1 overs. Duckett was all attack, racing to his fifty off 46 balls with seven cracking fours, his quick feet and sharp timing making India’s bowlers look lost. Crawley played it steadier, reaching his fifty off 73 balls with nine fours and a six, holding the innings together while picking his moments to cut loose. Their 166-run partnership for the first wicket, done in 31.6 overs, was the biggest opening stand of the series, putting England in the driver’s seat.

Anshul Kamboj strikes 👍

His maiden wicket in international cricket ✅

England 2 down as Ben Duckett departs.

Updates ▶️ https://t.co/L1EVgGtx3a#TeamIndia | #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/2VhN6Z5RnG

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 24, 2025

India’s bowlers had a rough time. Jasprit Bumrah kept things tight, giving up just 37 runs in 13 overs, but couldn’t get a wicket. Mohammed Siraj had a day to forget, leaking 58 runs in 10 overs as Crawley and Duckett smashed anything short or wide. England hit 100 in 18.5 overs and 150 in 28.4 overs, with their stand packing 26 boundaries and a six. Anshul Kamboj, on his Test debut, gave India a spark by getting Duckett for 94, caught by substitute keeper Dhruv Jurel, who was standing in for the injured Pant. Ravindra Jadeja followed up, nabbing Crawley for 84, caught by KL Rahul, to break the huge partnership.

Stumps on Day 2 in Manchester!

Debutant Anshul Kamboj & Ravindra Jadeja pick a wicket each in the final session ⚡️

England reach 225/2, trail by 133 runs.

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/L1EVgGu4SI#TeamIndia | #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/YGTUz2uzwK

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 24, 2025

Even after losing their openers, England stayed on top. Ollie Pope (20* off 42 balls) and Joe Root (11* off 27 balls) played smart in the last 10 overs, making sure no more wickets fell as England ended at 225/2 in 46 overs, with a run rate of 4.89. The final 10 overs slowed to 3.90 as India bowled tighter, but England’s batsmen looked solid. Shardul Thakur’s five overs went for 35 runs, while Jadeja (1/37) and Kamboj (1/48) kept India fighting. With big hitters like Harry Brook, Ben Stokes, and Jamie Smith still to come, England were in a strong spot, just 133 runs behind with eight wickets left.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Day

The TCNI Magic Moment of the Day was Rishabh Pant’s unbelievable return to the crease, batting through a fractured foot with pure grit. On Day 1, Pant had to leave the field at 37* after a nasty hit from a Chris Woakes delivery, and everyone thought he was done for the innings. Doctors told him to stay off his foot to avoid making the injury worse, but when India reached 314/6 in the 101st over, Pant walked out, ready to give everything for his team.

𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗯𝗵 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝘁 – 𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗲𝗹 🫡#TeamIndia | #ENGvIND | @RishabhPant17 | @RaviShastriOfc | @cheteshwar1 | @DineshKarthik

WATCH 🎥🔽

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 25, 2025

His 54 off 75 balls, with three fours and two massive sixes, was a show of heart and talent. Pant played some shots carefully, picking his moments to defend, then unleashed his trademark flair with a lofted cover drive and a huge six that sailed into the stands. His ability to mix caution with aggression, all while limping through pain, was incredible. He steadied India’s innings when they needed it most, helping them reach 358.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day: Ben Duckett

Ben Duckett was the TCNI Hero of the Day for his red-hot 94 off 100 balls, a knock that set England’s innings on fire and gave them control of the game. Duckett came out swinging, taking on India’s bowlers with 13 fours that showed off his quick hands and sharp eye. His 166-run stand with Zak Crawley was a game-changer, putting India under pressure and building a rock-solid foundation. Duckett was fearless, smashing loose balls from Siraj and Thakur and even taking on Jadeja’s spin with clever footwork.

A close call for Ben Duckett 😅

Have you ever seen this before? 👀 pic.twitter.com/JJJhuCwOu3

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 24, 2025

He looked set for a century, but fell just short at 94, caught by Dhruv Jurel off Kamboj, his disappointment clear as he walked off. Zak Crawley later raved about their partnership, saying Duckett’s aggression and his own steadier approach worked like a charm. Duckett’s knock wasn’t just about runs; it changed the mood of the game, giving England a real shot at taking the lead on Day 3. His performance was the talk of the day, earning him nods from teammates and fans as the standout star.