[Watch] Ravi Ashwin Breaks Brewing Partnership Between Ollie Pope And Hartley On Day 4

Ravichandran Ashwin celebrating an English wicket at Hyderabad (BCCI)

Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin broke a brewing partnership between England’s lone centurion Ollie Pope and tailender Tom Hartley by dismissing the latter at the stroke of Lunch on Day 4 of the series-opening first Test match at Hyderabad.

Ashwin’s timely breakthrough broke the floodgates for Team India as Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah accounted for the remaining two wickets on offer to envelop the Englishmen for 420 within the opening session of the penultimate day.

Ravichandran Ashwin breaks through English rebellion

Ravichandran Ashwin zipped through Tom Hartley’s defense to break his brewing lower-order rebellious stand with well-set centurion Ollie Pope at the stroke of Lunch on Day 4.

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Hartley, in his debut Test, had made his way to the crease at 339-7 following the dismissal of spin mate Rehan Ahmed. The lower-order batter went on to compile 34 handy runs and shared a cautious 80-run stand with number three batsman Pope to stretch the English lead past the 200-run mark.

Just as Hartley and Pope were looking all set to survive through lunch break, Ashwin dismissed the former to end their lower-order resistance as England slumped to 419-8.

Watch: Ravichandran Ashwin delivers timely breakthrough for India

Emboldened by Ravichandran Ashwin’s timely strike, Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah mopped up the tail as England lost their final three wickets for just a run.

Team India will be required to chase 231 runs to secure a 1-0 lead in their five-match series after the lunch session.

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