What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
BENGALURU: Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow on Monday exhibited enormous pluck as England, chasing 378, reached 259 for three at stumps on Day 4 of the rescheduled fifth Test against India at Edgbaston.
The visitors are leading the series 2-1 and England will have to win the Test to level the series.
Earlier in the day, India lost track after Cheteshwar Pujara departed for 66. Rishabh Pant, who had scored a whirlwind hundred in the first innings, once again reeled off a breezy half-century. However, he perished after scoring 57 off 86 balls. The dashing left-hander attempted a reverse-sweep against Jack Leach but was caught by Root.
Once again, Shreyas Iyer’s weakness against short-ball was exploited by England. He tried to execute a pull off Matty Potts but ended up giving a simple catch to James Anderson at mid-wicket. India’s lower order was blown by England skipper Ben Stokes as he nipped out Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah cheaply.
Eventually, India were bowled out for 245 in their second innings. Because the visitors had taken a first-innings lead of 132 runs, the total lead was 377.
Contrary to what many had thought, England openers – Alex Lees and Zak Crawley – came out all guns blazing. Lees was particularly severe on bowlers as he unleashed an array of boundaries. He used his feet quite decisively against Jadeja as well as pacers. He began by clipping Shami off his pads and later meted out a licking to Jadeja as he unfurled reverse-sweep and slog-sweep with supreme skill.
Crawley also demonstrated a slew of fine cover drives and flicks. Both of them composed a 107-run partnership for the first wicket before Crawley was bowled by a booming inswinger by Bumrah as he shouldered his arms.
In his next over, Bumrah dismissed Ollie Pope for a duck and Lees was also run out soon which left England stuttering at 109-3
But after that Root and Bairstow joined forces and kept Indian bowlers at bay. Shami, Siraj and Shardul Thakur bowled too many balls which were drifting towards the leg-stump and paid a heavy price. Root and Bairstow relentlessly clipped them off their pads and accumulated easy runs. Root was also strong on the back-foot and clocked up a few boundaries by steering the balls to third-man.
While Root’s innings so far has been almost flawless, Bairstow has got two reprieves. In the 38th over, Bairstow tried to punch Siraj through the off-side but got an outside edge which hurtled towards the slip cordon. But Hanuma Vihari failed to grab the catch. Then in the 48th over, Pant grassed a catch as Bairstow tried to tickle Thakur to fine-log.
Root and Bairstow were batting at 76 and 72, respectively, at stumps on Day 4. The hosts still need 119 more runs to win the match and square the series.
