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29 March 2024

India vs England 1st Test Day 4: India to 167-3 at close, lead by 128

Published
By Cricket Correspondent

England pair Joe Root and James Anderson broke the all-time Test record for a 10th-wicket partnership on Saturday but the first Test against India at Trent Bridge looks like ending in a draw.

The home team took an unlikely 39-run lead on first innings after Root and Anderson combined for a remarkable stand of 198, beating the previous test best by 35, to lead their side to a total of 496.

England then grabbed two late wickets to reduce India to 167 for three at the close of play.

Murali Vijay (52), who made a century in the first innings, and Cheteshwar Pujara (55) both fell in the last hour to leave the visitors 128 runs ahead.

Part-time spinner Moeen Ali claimed two wickets and paceman Liam Plunkett one. Virat Kohli (eight) and Ajinkya Rahane (18) were the not-out batsmen when stumps were drawn.

Vijay and Pujara put on 91 for the second wicket until the latter cut Plunkett to Ben Stokes at point and the fielder hung on after initially fumbling the catch.

"On a pitch like that, that is quite unresponsive, if you play selectively like we did it's hard to get out," Root told Sky Sports television.

"I actually quite enjoyed batting with Jimmy. It's the only time he's nice to me. He's normally quite grumpy and having a go at me so it makes a nice change.

"Tomorrow we're going to have to bowl very well and get a few early wickets, then you never know," added Root who also made 200 not out against Sri Lanka last month.

The day belonged to Yorkshireman Root and 31-year-old Lancastrian Anderson, who produced the best score by an England number 11.

RIDE LUCK

England began the day on 352 for nine and the pair had to ride their luck on occasions.

The 23-year-old Root was the backbone of the innings, farming the strike in brilliant fashion as he registered his fourth Test century to rescue his team after they had collapsed to 202 for seven on Friday.

Fast bowler Anderson carved out a career-best score until he edged the ball to Dhawan at first slip off Bhuvneshwar Kumar who returned test-best figures of five for 82.

"I had really good fun today," said the Lancastrian. "It's probably the first time I've really enjoyed batting.

"It was a great effort. We just seemed to get on a roll last night and overnight we both thought that we could actually annoy the Indians today and stay out there a little bit.

"Obviously we didn't think anything like this could happen. We knew we still had a job to do this morning and we stuck at it brilliantly," said Anderson.

"I wouldn't say it was easy but it was such a slow pitch that you knew there was only a few ways you could get out. If you had a good game plan you could stick in there."

The record partnership meant it was the first time in tests that both sides had compiled last-wicket stands of three figures, following Kumar and Mohammed Shami's alliance of 111 on Thursday.

Australia's Phil Hughes and Ashton Agar shared the previous record for the last-wicket stand when they put on 163 against England, ironically at the same ground last year.

Root struck 15 fours in his 400-minute vigil while Anderson hit 17 fours in his 230-minute knock.

India have not won a test away from home since 2011 while England have lost six of their last seven matches in the longest form of the game.

There has not been a Test draw at Trent Bridge since 2002.

CLOSE

Kohli glances Broad to fine leg for a boundary as India end day four on 167-3, a lead of 128.

Rahane is unbeaten on 18 with Kohli having come together at the quick dismissals of Vijay (52) and Pujara (55).

Rahane helps himself to three boundaries in an over from Plunkett through point and couple on the leg side. Ind 159-3.

Rahane opens his account with a boundary whipping Plunkett to midwicket. Ind 144-3.

Double blow for India as Pujara cuts Plunkett straight to point where Stokes holds onto the catch after a bit of a juggle. Ind 140-3 in 41.1 overs.

Cheteshwar Pujara c Stokes b Plunkett 55 (101b 7x4 0x6)

Moeen Ali strikes against luring out Vijay who is out caught and also stumped by Prior. Ind 140-2 in 41 overs.

Murali Vijay c Prior b Ali 52 (119b 7x4 1x6)

Pujara cuts Plunkett past backward  point for a boundary and then pulls a shorts ball to the square leg fence to reach his fifth Test half century. Ind 137-1.

Pujara cuts  Plunkett past backward  point for a boundary.

Vijay completes his fifth Test half century with a single off Ali. Ind 126-1.

Pujara steers Anderson through the vacant third man area for a boundary while Vijay steps out and whacks Moeen in the next over for a six over long-on. Ind 115-1.

Vijay gets a boundary getting a thick outside edge off Broad. Ind 96-1.

Pujara is on song executing a judicious cover drive off Stokes.

Pujara follows suit as Stokes gives him a little width to back cut past gully for another boundary. Ind 86-1.

Vijay thumps a half-volley from Broad down the ground for a much-needed boundary for India. Ind 82-1.

Vijay cracks two consecutive boundaries off Plunkett steering to third man and getting a thin edge past the keeper. Ind 66-1.

TEA

Frustrated India finally ended England's record last-wicket stand on the fourth day of the opening test at Trent Bridge and then lost an early second-innings wicket on Saturday.

Shikhar Dhawan fell for 29 to leave Murali Vijay (19), who scored 146 in the first innings, and Cheteshwar Pujara (8) unbeaten at tea as the visitors reached 57 for one.

Earlier, England took an unlikely first-innings lead of 39 after Joe Root and James Anderson combined for a test record last-wicket stand of 198.

Root struck a brilliant unbeaten 154 as the home team amassed a total of 496 after having been reduced to 202 for seven on Friday.

Anderson secured another record as he made a career-best 81, the most by an England number 11, before edging the ball to Dhawan at first slip off Bhuvneshwar Kumar who returned figures of five for 82.

The partnership also meant it was the first time in tests that both sides had compiled last-wicket stands of triple figures, following Kumar and Mohammed Shami's alliance of 111 on Thursday.

Australia's Phil Hughes and Ashton Agar shared the previous record for the last-wicket stand when they put on 163 against England, ironically at the same ground last year.

India's relief at removing Anderson was short lived as part-time spinner Moeen Ali caught and bowled Dhawan 12 overs into their second innings.

India are 57-1 in 13 overs at tea, having  a lead of 18, with Dhawan falling in the second last over of the afternoon session.

Pujara smacks the first ball from Moeen through the covers for a boundary followed by another down the ground. Ind 57-1.

Dhawan paddles Moeen's second ball to the fine leg fence but the spinner has the last laugh as the left-hander chips a return catch smashing a low full toss back to the bowler. Ind 49-1 in 11.4 overs.

Shikhar Dhawan c and b Ali 29 (29b 6x4 0x6)

Spin introduced after 11 overs with Moeen Ali coming into the attack.

Vijay keeps the scoreboard ticking with another fluid drive through the covers. Ind 44-0.

Dhawan plays one short of Stokes at point before virtually pushing Plunkett with superb timing through point for a boundary. Ind 39-0.

Dhawan whips Anderson off his toes for another boundary. Ind 31-0.

Dhawan punches Broad this time through the covers with superb timing for another boundary.

Vijay drives Anderson through the covers with a confident looking stroke for a boundary. Ind 18-0.

Vijay survives as Prior failing to latch on to a healthy outside edge which runs away to the fence. Ind 10-0.

Dhawan gets cracking with a boundary to third man off Broad. Ind 6-0.

Anderson begins with a maiden to Vijay.

ENGLAND FIRST INNINGS

England are all out for 496 in their first inning replying to India's 457, enjoying a lead of 39.

Root remained unbeaten on a magnificent 154 sharing in a new world record partnership for the ninth wicket of 198 with Anderson (81) to frustrate India.

Kumar finishes with five for 82.

India finally get the wicket of Anderson with Dhawan holding a brilliant catch at slip off Bhuvneshwar. Eng 496 all out in 144.5 overs.

James Anderson c Dhawan b Kumar 81 (130b 17x4 0x6)

Ishant is fired up after the umpire turns down a stifled appeal for a caught behind off Root with even Dhoni asking the question belatedly. Eng 493-9.

Root hits the first boundary after in the second over from Ishant punching him through mid-on to make his third score past 150.

LUNCH

England are 485-9 in 140 overs as lunch with Rot 143 not out and James Anderson 81 not out with the pair having featured in a world record stand for the last wicket of 187 having resumed 352-9 in reply to India's first innings total of 457.

Anderson moves onto 80s steering Ishant off an outside edge to the third man fence. Eng 485-9 in 140 overs as lunch is finally taken.

Root gets a boundary after a long time threading Binny through the offside. Eng 480-9.

Anderson drives Binny through the onside for another delightful boundary. Eng 471-9.

Root and Anderson have set a new world record for the 10th wicket eclipsing the 163 made by Australia's Agar-Hughes at  Trent Bridge last year. Eng 464-9.

Lunch has been delayed as India look to break the last wicket stand between Root and Anderson.

What a remarkable fightback by England and a record last wicket stand. Eng 458-9.

Anderson steps out and thumps Vijay over his head for a boundary to bring the scores level at 457-9.

The highest partnership in Test history for the 10th wkt is 163 by Australia's Agar-Hughes, also at  Trent Bridge on 11 July 2013.

The 150 partnership between Root and Anderson for the last wicket comes in 233 balls.

There is no stopping Anderson who sweeps Jadeja to square leg for a boundary. Eng 440-9.

Anderson survives with Dhoni failing to hold onto a leg side flick. Eng 432-9.

Anderson surpasses the previous highest score by an England number 11 of 59 not out made by John Snow against West Indies in 1966.

Shami bangs it in and Anderson obliges by slashing it over the infield on the off for another boundary.

Anderson gets another boundary with a reverse sweep which went through Dhoni's legs. Eng 420-9.

Anderson jumps out of his crease and smashes Shami to the midwicket fence to reach his maiden Test half century, in fact his first in first class cricket. Eng 415-9.

Roots slams Ishant through point for another boundary. Eng 409-9.

Anderson tickles Shami between the close-in fielders on the leg for another boundary as England pass 400. Eng 404-9.

The 100 partnership for the last wicket between Root and Anderson comes off 139 balls.

Anderson is not going to hang around latching onto a short ball from Ishant to cut him over slips for a boundary and surpass his previous highest score of 34 made against South Africa in 2008. Eng 396-9.

Roots cracks two consecutive boundaries off Shami to reach his fourth Test century, the first against India.

Root slashes Ishant to the third man fence to move into the 90s and survives a run-out attempt running a quick single. Eng 379-9.

Root celebrates the record last wicket stand by pulling Bhuvneshwar to the fine leg fence. Eng 374-9.

Root and Anderson have passed Engand's previous highest 10th wicket partnership against of 70 between Paul Allott and Bob Willis made in 1987.

Anderson gets a bit of width from Bhuvneshwar and punches through the covers for another boundary. Eng 363-9.

Anderson hits the first boundary of the day whipping Bhuvneshwar through midwicket in the first over. Eng 357-9 in 107 overs.

England will resume day four on 352 for nin in reply to India's total of 457 in the first Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday.