The pint-sized wicketkeeper batsman also successfully reviewed a caught behind appeal which was given out by umpire Marais Erasmus. In all, he hit six boundaries in 73 balls.
Cheteshwar Pujara (8) was giving him company having hit two boundaries.
That Patel’s batting has improved tremendously is something that’s known to one and all but what was reassuring was the confidence with which he tackled the new ball bowlers Jimmy Anderson and Chris Woakes.
It’s never easy opening the batting after being informed at the eleventh hour with a regular opener out due to an injury.
Nerves are bound to be there and more so if one has to open the batting on his comeback Test in the morning when the conditions are conducive for swing bowlers.
A tuck off his hips to the square leg boundary eased his nerves. There was delightful off-drive followed by a thickish inside edge in the very next delivery bowled by Stokes.
