HART OF A LION

Tom's in seven heaven as he skittles India

- RORY POLLARD

OLLIE POPE left the door open and novice spinner Tom Hartley crashed through it to condemn India to only their fourth home defeat in a decade.

The 24-year-old Lancastrian, who could have crumbled after seeing his first ball in Test cricket battered for six on the first evening, bounced back with figures of 7-62 to complete an amazing England victory.

The previous afternoon they looked doomed to a heavy defeat before a heroic 196 by England vicecaptain Pope left India with a tricky chase on a worn pitch.

The home team, beaten only four times on Indian soil in a decade, would still have backed themselves to reach the 231 needed but Hartley had other ideas.

Captain Ben Stokes threw him the new ball after an initial burst by quickie Mark Wood, pitching him up against Yashasvi Jaiswal, the opener who had launched his first Test match delivery into the stands.