India draw fourth Test with England

AFP | Manchester

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India’s enthralling series in England is going all the way to the finish after the resilient tourists drew the fourth Test at Old Trafford yesterday. Record-breaking skipper Shubman Gill scored his fourth century of the campaign before Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar also made hundreds.

England remain 2-1 up in this five-match contest ahead of a quick turnaround to Thursday’s start of an Oval finale, where an India victory in south London would ensure a share of the spoils for Gill’s men.

A draw looked anything but likely when India collapsed to 0-2 in the opening over of their second innings on Saturday as Chris Woakes struck with successive deliveries after England had piled up a mammoth 669 in their first innings.

But Gill, in on a hattrick, went on to score 103 in a marathoninnings of some seven hours as he turned the tide during a stand of 188 with KL Rahul that ended before lunch on yesterday’s last day. Jadeja, reprieved first ball when Joe Root dropped a tough slip chance, went on to make 107 not out, his first century of the series following four fifties, with fellow spin-bowling all-rounder Sundar unbeaten on 101 -- his maiden Test hundred.

India have now scored 11 individual hundreds this series, the most by any visiting side in England, and such was their eventual dominance yesterday they had no need to worry about whether to send Rishabh Pant out to bat following the severe foot injury he suffered in the first innings.

Sundar and Jadeja’s unbroken partnership of 203 on a largely docile pitch frustrated a toiling and increasingly fractious England, despite the best efforts of inspirational captain Ben Stokes.

Personal triumph for Stokes

This match was a personal triumph for Stokes as he became just the fourth England cricketer to score a hundred and take five wickets in the same Test, his 141 on Saturday following a haul of 5-72 in India’s first-innings 358.

But it appeared to come at some cost with Stokes, who suffered from cramp while batting, not bowling at all on Saturday and repeatedly clutching the top of his leg.

And his efforts to defy history by winning the toss and bowl - ing proved unsuccessful.