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19 March 2024

India vs England 3rd Test Day 4: India four down and staring at defeat

Published
By Cricket Correspondent and Agencies

England need six wickets on the final day to win the third Test against India after a superb bowling performance helped them reduce the tourists to 112-4, still 333 runs short of victory, at the end of day four at Southampton on Wednesday.

India lost Murali Vijay (12) and Cheteshwar Pujara (2) in the space of eight balls in the final session and part-timer Joe Root then claimed the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan (37), which broke a watchful stand of 51 with Virat Kohli.

Spinner Moeen Ali got Kohli (28) to edge a straight one to Jos Buttler before Lord's centurion Ajinkya Rahane (18 not out) and Rohit Sharma (six not out) battled to the close with India on the brink of defeat.

Earlier in the day England captain Alastair Cook (70 not out) managed successive half-centuries in a test match for the first time since 2011 and he was backed up by Root's 56 off 41 balls as England declared their second innings at 205-4.

It left India facing what would be a world-record chase of 445 to win the game. But England, trailing 1-0 in the five-match series, are favourites to earn their first victory in 11 outings on the final day on Thursday.

After James Anderson claimed a five-wicket haul on his 32nd birthday by dismissing Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Mohammed Shami in the morning session to bowl India out for 330, Cook opted not to enforce the follow-on.

Having lost Sam Robson (13) and Gary Ballance (38) before lunch and Ian Bell (23) after the interval, Cook and Root went about setting India a daunting target.

The pair attacked India with brutal power, taking the bowlers to all parts of the ground with a range of aggressive strokes, before Root was bowled by Ravindra Jadeja, prompting Cook into a declaration.

A resurgent England came at India with venom after tea, and they found a breakthrough when Broad ran Murali Vijay out with a superb diving direct hit.

In the following over, Cook introduced Ali into the attack and it paid dividends as he struck with his second ball of his spell, getting Pujara to edge a sharp delivery that was brilliantly caught at slip by Chris Jordan.

On a dry pitch conducive to spin bowling, Cook made another well-timed bowling change, bringing Root into the attack.

Soon Root had drawn Dhawan into nicking the ball to Jordan before Kohli feathered a straight ball from Ali to Buttler.

CLOSE

India are 112-4 in 42 overs at close after being set a world record target of 445.

India are in a spin as Ali claims his second wicket getting the outside edge of Kohli to be caught behind. Ind 89-4 in 32.2 overs.

Virat Kohli c Buttler b Ali 28 (56b 3x4 0x6)

Root strikes in the first over after the drinks interval having Dhawan caught at slip. Ind 80-3 in 29 overs.

Shikhar Dhawan c Jordan b Root 37 (85b 6x4 0x6)

Dhawan is lucky as a thick outside edge off Jordan flies through the gap in the slip cordon. Ind 73-2.

Kohli cracks consecutive boundaries off Jordan straight down the ground and through the covers. Ind 69-2.

Dhawan cuts Ali through the gap on the off for a boundary. Ind 60-2.

Dhawan survives a confident leg before shout off Ali with replays showing it would have hit middle. Ind 42-2.

Dhawan slams Ali through square leg for a boundary. Ind 38-2.

Moeen Ali strikes with his second delivery as Pujara goes cheaply edging to first slip where Jordan takes a brilliant catch. Ind 29-2 in 12.2 overs.

Cheteshwar Pujara c Jordan b Ali 2 (6b 0x4 0x6)

England get a breakthrough via a run out as Vijay fails to beat a throw from Broad by millimetres. Ind 26-1 in 11.1 overs.

Murali Vijay run out 12 (35b 1x4 0x6)

Broad strays down the leg side and Vijay clips him to the fence. Ind 19-0.

Dhawan opens his account with a boundary off the first ball from Broad with an exquisite drive through the covers.

TEA

Half-centuries from back-to-form captain Alastair Cook and a jaunty Joe Root enabled England to declare their second innings at 205-4 on the fourth day of the third Test on Wednesday, setting India 445 to win.

Cook (70 not out), who scored successive 50s in a Test match for the first time since 2011, played superbly with Root (56) as England exerted control over the tourists by declaring for the second time in the match.

India, 1-0 up in the series, will have to chase down a world-record total to win, with England needing 10 wickets to earn a first victory in 11 outings.

The tourists reached 20-0 early in their second innings.

In the morning session, Anderson celebrated his 32nd birthday by taking his first five wicket-haul for more than a year as he dismissed Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Mohammed Shami in the space of six balls as India collapsed from 323-8 to 330 all out.

Despite India falling 40 runs short of the follow-on, Cook opted to bat again and the hosts lost Sam Robson (13) and Gary Ballance (38), who was again victim of a poor decision when he was given out caught off Ravindra Jadeja despite no hint of an edge.

Ian Bell (23) fell soon after lunch, but England then accelerated, with both Cook and Root playing fluid strokes to the boundary.

Cook, who reclaimed his form with 95 in the first innings, went to his 36th career half-century with a perfectly timed sweep shot that raced away for four.

Root reached a sparkling 50 as he and Cook dominated the Indian bowlers, dispatching them brutally to all sides of the ground.

The young right-hander was bowled by Jadeja for 56, off just 41 balls, prompting Cook to declare and tea to be taken early.

ENGLAND SECOND INNINGS

India have been set a world record run chase of 445 by England.

England declare their second innings after the dismissal of Root. Eng 205-4 in 40.4 overs.

Joe Root b Jadeja 56 (41b 9x4 0x6)

Root races to his sixth Test half century off just 38 balls hammering consecutive boundaries off Kumar. Eng 196-3.

Root continues to flay the Indian bowlers getting boundaries off Shami and Kumar. Eng 177-3.

England are on the charge now as their lead reaches 400 with Root and Cook helping themselves to boundaries off Jadeja. Eng 161-3.

Rohit continues to leak boundaries with Root getting a couple on either side of the wicket. Eng 148-3.

Cook sweeps Jadeja to square leg to complete his second half century of the match. Eng 137-3.

Cook glances Jadeja for a boundary to fine leg. Eng 117-3.

Jadeja strikes again as Bell is bowled round his legs attempting to sweep with the ball brushing his pads on the way to hit the stumps. Eng 106-3 in 26.2 overs.

Ian Bell b Jadeja 23 (21b 4x4 0x6)

Bell is making his intentions clear as he walks down the track to drive Pankaj through the covers for a boundary. Eng 106-2.

Bell steps out and thumps Jadeja down the ground for another boundary. Eng 97-2.

Bell cracks consecutive boundaries off Pankaj pulling to midwicket and then easing him past point. Eng 91-2.

James Anderson took his first five-wicket haul for more than a year as England bowled India out on Wednesday to stay in charge on the fourth day of the third Test at Southampton.

Anderson, celebrating his 32nd birthday, finished with figures of five for 53 as he removed both Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Mohammed Shami in the space of six balls, before captain Alastair Cook opted to bat again despite dismissing India for 330, 40 runs adrift of the follow-on target.

After losing opener Sam Robson (13) and Gary Ballance (38), who fell to the last ball of the session, England reached 80-2 at lunch, leading by 319 as they bid to level the five-match series.

Ian Bell will join Cook (29) after the break.

The potent pace unit of Stuart Broad (3-66) and Anderson continued where they had left off on Tuesday evening, bowling with speed and swing.

Anderson tempted Dhoni into a pull-shot that went off a glove to Jos Buttler, who showed agility behind the stumps throughout, before he removed Shami in similar fashion.

It was no less than a revived England deserved, having dominated India with bat and ball for three days.

Cook, who reclaimed some form with 95 in the first innings, looked confident at the crease, although England suffered an early setback when Bhuvneshwar Kumar delivered a beauty which Robson nicked to Shikhar Dhawan at slip.

Ballance, playing with style and intent, found the boundary at all angles including a six that he despatched down the ground before he was the victim of another poor umpiring decision, given out despite no hint of an edge off the bowling of Ravindra Jadeja.

LUNCH

England are 80-2 in 20.5 overs at lunch, enjoying a lead of 219.

Jadeja strikes as Ballance is adjudged caught off bat-pad though replays shows it had missed the bat. Eng 80-2 in 20.5 overs.

Gary Ballance c Pujara b Jadeja 38 (48b 5x4 1x6)

Ballance slams Rohit through extra cover for another boundary. Eng 79-1.

The 50 partnership between Cook and Ballance comes in 65 balls. Eng 73-1.

Ballance gets a boundary with a reverse sweep off Jadeja.

Dhoni throws the ball to Rohit Sharma and Ballance hoists him for a six when he tosses it up. Eng 62-1.

Boundaries are coming easily for Cook and Ballance with Shami straying in line and length. Eng 53-1.

Ballance slams consecutive boundaries off Kumar through square leg and down the ground. Eng 44-1.

Cook cracks Shami past third man for a boundary. Eng 33-1.

Kumar strikes with a peach of a delivery which Robson could only edge to Dhawan at first slip. Eng 22-1 in 6.4 overs.

Sam Robson c Dhawan b Kumar 13 (20b 2x4 0x6)

Cook gets his first boundary steering Pankaj to third man off an outside edge. Eng 14-0.

England are off the mark with a boundary as Robson square drives Kumar through point.

INDIA FIRST INNINGS

England have not enforced the follow-on despite enjoying a lead of 239.

Anderson finishes with five for 53 and Broad three for 66.

Anderson claims his fifth wicket having Shami caught behind. Ind 330 all out in 106.1 overs.

Mohammed Shami c Buttler b Anderson 5 (15b 1x4 0x6)

Dhoni perishes in the third over of the morning gloving a bouncer from Anderson. Ind 329-9 in 104.2 overs.

MS Dhoni c Buttler b Anderson 50 (113b 5x4 1x6)

James Anderson and Stuart Broad each took three wickets to leave India in trouble on 323 for eight, 246 runs adrift of England, after the third day of the third Test on Tuesday.

Anderson picked up three for 52 while fast bowling partner Broad shrugged aside some indifferent recent performances to snatch three for 65.

Ajinkya Rahane and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni made half-centuries but England, 1-0 down in the five-match series, are in control as they bid to win their first Test in 11 outings.

Dhoni struck a patient unbeaten 50 and will resume with Mohammed Shami (four) on Wednesday morning as India look to scrape past the follow-on mark of 370.