India finished Day 3 at 40/0, needing 152 more runs for victory against England in the 4th Test. The series hangs in the balance with an intriguing final day ahead.
India asserted their dominance on day three of the 4th Test against England, showcasing a formidable performance with spinner Ravichandran Ashwin leading the charge. Ashwin’s five-wicket haul played a pivotal role in dismissing England for a mere 145, setting the stage for India to chase down a target of 192 and secure their third consecutive victory in the five-Test series. The day ended with India at 40-0, requiring another 152 runs for the win.
Opener Zak Crawley was the standout performer for England, notching up a score of 60. However, the rest of the English batting lineup struggled against the turning ball, succumbing to the spin duo of Ashwin and Kuldeep Yadav, who claimed figures of 5-51 and 4-22, respectively. England’s innings crumbled in the final session as they lost wickets at regular intervals, leaving their bowlers with the daunting task of leveling the series and pushing it to a decisive fifth Test in Dharamsala.
India’s bowlers executed their plans effectively after wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel’s resilient knock of 90 in the morning session. Starting the day at 219-7, Jurel’s partnership with overnight batsman Yadav added crucial runs and reduced the deficit for the hosts. Ashwin, sensing the opportunity on a pitch showing cracks and variable bounce, took the new ball and struck in consecutive deliveries to dismiss Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope, reducing England to 19-2.
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England’s captain, Joe Root, who had scored an unbeaten 122 in the first innings, put up a brief resistance alongside Crawley. However, Ashwin’s skillful bowling and a successful lbw appeal, supported by tracking software, saw Root departing for a low score. Crawley, after raising his fifty, fell victim to Yadav’s sharp left-arm wrist spin. Ben Stokes, England’s captain, was dismissed just before tea, falling prey to a delivery that barely bounced and sneaked through low to hit the stumps.
The collapse continued after tea, with Jonny Bairstow departing on the first ball. The innings folded soon after, with Ben Foakes being the last to fall for a gritty 17 off Ashwin’s bowling. Shoaib Bashir, England’s spinner, made a significant impact, taking his maiden Test five-wicket haul to bowl India out for 307 in their first innings. This effort provided England with a slim lead of 46 going into their second innings.
Jurel’s heroic innings in the morning session, featuring a crucial 76-run partnership with Yadav, helped India recover. The veteran fast bowler James Anderson eventually broke the stand, dismissing Yadav for 28 and securing his 698th Test wicket. Anderson is now on the cusp of a historic milestone, requiring just two more wickets to join the elite club of bowlers with 700 Test scalps, alongside Sri Lanka’s Muttiah Muralitharan and the late Australian legend Shane Warne.
Jurel, making his debut in the third Test, showcased his prowess with six fours and four sixes during his maiden Test half-century. England’s Bashir, who missed the first Test due to a visa issue, celebrated his return by trapping debutant Akash Deep lbw for his fifth wicket, underscoring his potential impact on the series.
In summary, India’s commanding performance, led by Ashwin’s brilliance and supported by crucial contributions from Jurel and Yadav, has positioned them favorably in the 4th Test. England faces an uphill task to salvage the series, with India requiring 152 more runs for victory. As the match heads into its final stages, the cricketing world anticipates a thrilling conclusion in Dharamsala, with both teams striving for supremacy.