England's bowlers are struggling in a difficult series against India due to poor pitches and a talented batting lineup. The captain, Ben Stokes, provides crucial moments of brilliance, including a viral run-out of Rishabh Pant against the run of play and breaking a significant partnership with a key wicket. His performance highlights both skill and determination amidst tough conditions, as he also delivered rapid bouncers in extreme heat, helping to keep England competitive in a tight match.
The upshot has been perspiration outstripping inspiration by some margin. Not that those two elements are mutually exclusive and in Ben Stokes, England have a cricketer who thrives on delivering both.
Stokes was fresh or rather anything but fresh from a five-over burst of bouncers in 30C heat, hitting 90mph on the speed gun through sheer heft.
Rishabh Pant dead-batted an intended single and briefly hesitated after setting off, only for Stokes to swoop in from cover and hit the bullseye in one fluid motion.
Stokes broke a troubling sixth-wicket stand of 72 runs between Ravindra Jadeja and Nitish Kumar Reddy when he extracted some extra lift from the surface.
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