08-02-2021, 14:14
First Test, Chennai (day four)
England 578 (Root 218) & 178 (Root 40, Ashwin 6-61)
India 337 (Pant 91, Sundar 85, Bess 4-76) & 39-1
India need 381 to win
England will need nine wickets on the final day to beat India after setting up their victory push on day four of the first Test in Chennai.
India closed on 39-1, requiring a record 420 to win or, more realistically, needing to bat out the final day for a draw.
India, who faced 13 overs, lost opener Rohit Sharma to Jack Leach.
Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara reached the close unbeaten on 15 and 12 respectively.
England were tentative in their attempt to set India a challenging target - posting 178 all out from 46.3 overs.
They initially batted positively - building on a 241-run first-innings lead secured earlier in the day - but their scoring rate dropped to a crawl after tea.
Rather than declare, they batted on, allowing overs to be lost from the game - overs which they may need to take nine wickets on day five.
India began day four on 257-6 in their first innings and added 80 runs before they were dismissed for 337 shortly before lunch.
Washington Sundar made an impressive 85 while James Anderson and Leach took two wickets each.
Should England secure victory and take a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series, it would mean just a second defeat for India on home soil since 2013.
The route taken by England to get to this position was curious, but they are still favourites to claim one of their most famous wins in recent years.
There has been enough in the pitch, particularly with the new ball, for England to be confident of securing victory.
India, led by Sundar, made a solid start in the morning but when the new ball was taken the final four wickets fell for 32 runs.
The hosts opened with spin from both ends and England opener Rory Burns edged to slip from the first ball of England's second innings.
He fell to Ravichandran Ashwin, who also dismissed Dom Sibley for 16 with another ball that turned, bounced and found leg slip. Batting was difficult. India's off-spinner finished with 6-61.
India's quick bowlers found uneven bounce when introduced, another boost for England's chances.
Ishant Sharma dismissed Dan Lawrence lbw with a ball that kept low for his 300th Test wicket and Jasprit Bumrah did the same to Joe Root, after the England captain had made a breezy 40.
England were strangely flat for much of their late burst with the ball, Jofra Archer not offering the penetration of the first innings.
But, Leach's wicket of Rohit was a fine delivery that pitched on middle stump and hit off, highlighting the difficulties India will face.
England 578 (Root 218) & 178 (Root 40, Ashwin 6-61)
India 337 (Pant 91, Sundar 85, Bess 4-76) & 39-1
India need 381 to win
England will need nine wickets on the final day to beat India after setting up their victory push on day four of the first Test in Chennai.
India closed on 39-1, requiring a record 420 to win or, more realistically, needing to bat out the final day for a draw.
India, who faced 13 overs, lost opener Rohit Sharma to Jack Leach.
Shubman Gill and Cheteshwar Pujara reached the close unbeaten on 15 and 12 respectively.
England were tentative in their attempt to set India a challenging target - posting 178 all out from 46.3 overs.
They initially batted positively - building on a 241-run first-innings lead secured earlier in the day - but their scoring rate dropped to a crawl after tea.
Rather than declare, they batted on, allowing overs to be lost from the game - overs which they may need to take nine wickets on day five.
India began day four on 257-6 in their first innings and added 80 runs before they were dismissed for 337 shortly before lunch.
Washington Sundar made an impressive 85 while James Anderson and Leach took two wickets each.
Should England secure victory and take a 1-0 lead in the four-Test series, it would mean just a second defeat for India on home soil since 2013.
The route taken by England to get to this position was curious, but they are still favourites to claim one of their most famous wins in recent years.
There has been enough in the pitch, particularly with the new ball, for England to be confident of securing victory.
India, led by Sundar, made a solid start in the morning but when the new ball was taken the final four wickets fell for 32 runs.
The hosts opened with spin from both ends and England opener Rory Burns edged to slip from the first ball of England's second innings.
He fell to Ravichandran Ashwin, who also dismissed Dom Sibley for 16 with another ball that turned, bounced and found leg slip. Batting was difficult. India's off-spinner finished with 6-61.
India's quick bowlers found uneven bounce when introduced, another boost for England's chances.
Ishant Sharma dismissed Dan Lawrence lbw with a ball that kept low for his 300th Test wicket and Jasprit Bumrah did the same to Joe Root, after the England captain had made a breezy 40.
England were strangely flat for much of their late burst with the ball, Jofra Archer not offering the penetration of the first innings.
But, Leach's wicket of Rohit was a fine delivery that pitched on middle stump and hit off, highlighting the difficulties India will face.
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