England vs India 2021: First Hour’s Play On Day 4 Would Be Massive, Says Craig Overton

England pacer Craig Overton on Friday said that the first hour of Day 4 will be crucial in the pulsating Headingley Test between India and England. On Day 3, India made a resilient comeback in the game after their horrific first innings and ended with 215/2 with Cheteshwar Pujara (91*) and skipper Virat Kohli (45*) still batting for the visitors.

Pujara, who is often criticised for his extreme defensive approach, was the difference for India as he changed the gears while batting in the second innings against the England bowlers and smashed 16 boundaries from the 180 balls he played at a strike rate of 50.56.

We would have got three-four wickets: Craig Overton

England bowlers could only manage to pick a couple of wickets as India showed grit and hunger to remain alive in the second Test. Overton, who got the wicket of opener KL Rahul, feels they should have got at least four wickets in the day but stressed on the first hour of the upcoming day.

“Ideally, we would have got three or four, you only need a couple more for the bowlers. We are still in a good position in the game at the moment,” Overton said after the day’s play. 

“It obviously was frustrating for us, but we got to make sure that we get early breakthroughs. The first hour’s play would be massive,” he added. 

Virat Kohli is one of the characters who likes to get going: Craig Overton

Kohli, who was suffering from a drought of runs in the series so far, looked in good touch as he was involved in an unbeaten 99-run stand with Pujara, where the former was more cautious playing away from the bodyline. Overton credited Kohli and other batters for the way they played and said England bowlers bowled better than what the scoreboard looks like.

“He (Kohli) is one of the characters who likes to get going. As a side, we were just trying to make sure that we do our business as well as we can, not ignore him but making sure that we stick to our basics of what we do well as a side,” Overton said. 

“We know it’s going to be tricky. Credit to them they played really well. You always like to get a few more. I think we bowled better than what the two wickets suggest, but they also played well, that’s what they’re entitled to do so,” he added. 

India trail by 139 runs and will enter the fourth day with the aim to get a commanding lead to at least force a draw.

Also Read: England vs India 2021: Michael Vaughan Reveals His Advice For Virat Kohli Amid His Poor Form