'They played well too, and built a good partnership between Sam Curran and Moeen Ali. When Curran came in to bat, he was playing the waiting game. As the ball got older, it stopped swinging a lot and there was less seam movement as well,' Bumrah said
Southampton: Paceman Jasprit Bumrah expressed happiness that India could bowl out England under 250 on the opening day of the fourth Test here on Thursday.
Bumrah was India’s top wicket-taker (3/46) with three victims as the hosts were bundled out for 246 after electing to bat. The right-ram paceman took two crucial wickets of Keaton Jennings and Jonny Bairstow early and returned to add Stuart Broad’s scalp.
Also read: 4th Test, Day 1 Report
At one stage, England were reeling at 86/6. However, young Sam Curran top-scored with 78 at number eight and took the team past the 200-run mark.
Bumrah admitted that it was difficult to take five to six wickets every session and added one “can’t be too greedy”.
"You can't wicket 5-6 wickets every session," Bumrah told reporters after the end of the first day’s play at The Ageas Bowl.
"If you'd told us in the morning that we'd get them out for 250, we'd have taken that any day. We had them 80 for five, but they played well too. You can't be too greedy and expect too much. 'Oh, they're 80 for five, so you should get them out for 100.' We're happy with this score and if we bat well, it will help us going forward," he added.
Bumrah said the ball stopped swinging after it got old and gave credit to Curran and Moeen Ali, who made 40.
He said, "They played well too, and built a good partnership between Sam Curran and Moeen Ali. When Curran came in to bat, he was playing the waiting game. As the ball got older, it stopped swinging a lot and there was less seam movement as well. Then he played some shots and they scored some runs. After the break, we decided we had to create pressure again and work hard for a wicket, and things would follow.
“When we started in the morning, there was a lot of seam movement and swing. We also wanted to bat first. So that (movement) was a little more than we expected. We thought there would be a little help but this was more than we expected.”
At close of play on the first day, India were 19/0. The five-Test series stands at 2-1 in favour of the hosts.
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