The China Mail - Pant piles on agony for England with record-breaking century

The swashbuckling wicketkeeper, who made 134 in the first innings, completed a 130-ball century, including 13 fours and two sixes on the fourth afternoon.

He was out for 118, caught by Zak Crawley off the bowling of Shoaib Bashir to leave India 287-4, with KL Rahul unbeaten on 112.

Pant is just the second wicketkeeper in Test history to score hundreds in both innings of the same match following Andy Flower's scores of 142 and 199 not out for Zimbabwe against South Africa in 2001.

After a morning session in which India captain Shubman Gill was the only batsman dismissed, Rahul and Pant upped the tempo in their contrasting styles as India scored 80 runs in the first hour of the second session.

Right-hander Rahul hit off-spinner Bashir for a textbook cover-drive four, while left-hander Pant nicked Josh Tongue through a vacant second slip position and, on the next ball, thrashed him through the covers.

Another edge through the cordon took Pant to 49 before he completed an 83-ball fifty.

Pant then took a particular liking to Bashir, driving the young spinner for two soaring sixes in three balls.

Pant had made 75 when he thrashed Bashir to short cover where diving England captain Ben Stokes did well to get a hand to the ball as he tried to complete what would have been a sensational catch.

An England attack missing express quicks Mark Wood and Jofra Archer were largely powerless to stop the run spree as Rahul and Pant took advantage of the old ball on a good batting pitch.

Rahul completed a 202-ball century featuring 13 fours with a trademark cover-drive -- his ninth century in 59 Tests.

Pant, severely injured in a life-threatening car crash in December 2022, was stuck in the 90s before reaching three figures with a quick single.

India are strongly placed in the game but will be aware of their inability to make the most of their position in the first innings.

Hundreds from Gill, Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal put India on course for a total well in excess of 500, but they were dismissed for 471 after losing their last seven wickets for just 41 runs.

England mustered 465 in reply, with Ollie Pope making 106 and Harry Brook scoring 99.

The match was still in the balance as play resumed Monday, with India 90-2. Rahul was 47 not out and Gill, in his first match as India skipper, unbeaten on six.

Gill had added just two runs to his overnight score when he chopped on to fast bowler Brydon Carse.

F.Brown--ThChM