Picture : BCC / X
Leading the series 2-1 , England Skipper Ben Stokes won yet another toss and asked India to bat first.
India threatened to score a big total with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal scoring a fine 58 . His fellow partner K L Rahul scored 46. Sai Sudharsan coming in place of Karun Nair grabbed his chance with both hands to score a gritty 61.
Shubman Gill, the India Skipper was out cheaply for 12. Wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant ( who was injured in the foot) while batting scored his usual belligerant 54. Ravindra Jadeja 20, Shardul Thakur 41, Washington Sundar 27 were the other prominent scorers as India were eventually bolwed out for 358.
For England, Ben Stokes led from the front with his imppressive figures of 5/72. He was upported by Jofra Archer 3/73, Chris Woakes 1/66, comeback man Liam Dawson 1/45, Joe Root 0/19, Brydon Crase 0/71
In reply, England were off to a solid start with openers Zak Crawley 84, and Ben Duckett 94 both unlucky to miss out on fine hundreds. They gave the start England were looking for a big total. Ollie Pope joined the party with a fine 71. Seasoned Joe Root was not to be left behid as he hit another classy hundred. Root scoring a superb 150.
Due for a big knock with the bat after string of 30’s in the series, England Skipper Ben Stokes finally hit a ton a gritty 141. Jamie Smith was out 9, Liam Dawson 26 , BRudon Crase 47 as England batsmen sent Indian bowlers ona lether hunt and posting a mamoth total of 669.
India bowling were all over. Jasprit Bumrah looked litless 2/112. Debutant Anshul Kamboj 1/89, Mohammed Siraj 1/140, Shardul Thakur 0/55, Ravindra Jadeja 4/143, Washington Sundar 2/107
Having conceded a 311-run first innings lead before losing of their top order batters for ducks (Yashasvi Jaiswal , Sai Sudhrasan) in the second innings, India survived the fifth day battle thanks to captain Shubman Gill (103 off 238), K L Rahul (90 off 230).
The duo of Jadeja (107 not out off 185) and Washington (101 not out off 206) scored fine tons helped India draw the gripping test. From a precarious shaky start 1/2 India batted well to reach 425/4
For England Chris Woakes gave the breakthroughs 2/ 67 , Jofra Archer 1/78, Ben Stokes 1/ 33 Joe Root 0/68, Harry Brook 0/24, Brydon Crase 0/44, Liam Dawson 0/95
The action now shifts to Oval for the fifth Test starting on July 31.
