Mohammed Siraj was visibly frustrated with Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley after the England openers used delaying tactics to avoid facing Jasprit Bumrah before the Lunch break on Day 5 of the Test match.
England, chasing a target of 371, began Day 5 at 21 without loss. Duckett and Crawley had safely negotiated six overs at the end of Day 4 and returned to the crease with a solid intent to build on their partnership. The Indian pace attack, led by Bumrah and Siraj, bowled with intensity in the first hour, but without much reward.
After the drinks break, Duckett shifted gears and played a series of aggressive strokes, while Crawley chose a more cautious approach. The pair adjusted their natural ‘Bazball’ style to suit the situation, opting for a more measured strategy as they looked to preserve their wickets.
As Lunch approached, both batters were keen to avoid any late damage. They had already added significantly to the total and understood the value of going into the break without losing a wicket.
Tension flared during the 30th over when Siraj attempted to bowl quickly in an effort to squeeze in one more over before the interval. As he was about to deliver the final ball of the over, Crawley pulled away at the last moment, claiming movement behind the sight screen. However, commentator Harsha Bhogle noted that no such disturbance was visible.
An irritated Siraj expressed his displeasure towards Crawley with some sharp words, before turning to Duckett, who appeared amused at the situation. Despite the Indian pacer’s efforts, the plan from the England openers worked. The umpires called for Lunch immediately after, with England sitting comfortably at 117 without loss.
At the break, Duckett had reached an unbeaten 64 off 89 balls, while Crawley was solid on 42 from 93 deliveries. England still require 254 runs from 66 overs, provided the weather stays clear.
