Relaxing is paying off for England
ADIL RASHID believes a “more-relaxed” approach is paying dividends for England as they moved into a position to push for a Test victory over India in Rajkot.
England bowled India out for 488 in the morning before an unbeaten stand of 114 between openers Alastair Cook and debutant Haseeb Hameed gave the tourists a 163-run lead heading into the final day.
“I think we’re more relaxed and focused. If it comes out well, or if it doesn’t, at least you’ve got the right mindset,” bowler Rashid said.
“We’ve got to come back tomorrow morning and concentrate on getting the runs on the board and having a good session, then see where we’re at.
“If we’re in a good position then we can put the pressure on them.
“We’ve got to believe that we can do that.”
On 19-year-old batsman Hameed, who made a stylish 62 alongside captain Cook’s 46, legspinner Rashid added: “He’s a quiet boy but he works very hard on his game in the nets.
“He’s very organised and has a good temperament – he showed that today.”
Rashid, 28, has taken four wickets so far during this first Test and agrees he has played some of his best cricket for England this week.
“I’d probably say it was my most consistent,” said the Yorkshireman. “I felt confident and it was coming out of my hand fairly nicely. It felt quite good today.”
Meanwhile, Heather Knight, Lauren Winfield and Natalie Sciver made half-centuries as England women beat Sri Lanka by 122 runs to ensure qualification for next year’s World Cup.
Captain Knight did the best work with the bat during England’s innings in Colombo, top-scoring with 53 off 58 deliveries, including three fours and three sixes. She later fell to Sripali Weerakkody.
Winfield (51) lost fellow opener Tammy Beaumont to Sugandika Kumari’s bowling in the 13th over but Knight and Sciver steadied the ship, the latter making 51 before losing her wicket to Ama Kanchana.
England were bowled out by the last ball of the innings to settle for 295 all out yet, in reply, Sri Lanka could only reach 173 with Danielle Hazell taking three wickets and Laura Marsh two.