Day Four
With India effectively on 145/4 and two full days to go,match was evenly poised at the end of Day 3.It was vital for either side to take control of Day 4 and thereby take control of the match. Vijay and Dhoni continued their good work on Day 4 as well as they ground all their way to take India past 200.But Dhoni's resolute knock was ended by Plunkett as he departed for 19.Stuart Binny,India's No.7 made no contribution and India were suddenly tottering at 203/6.Though wickets were falling at one end,Vijay was as solid as a rock at the other and certainly needed someone to stay along with him to stretch the lead into a substantial number. Jadeja,who came in at the fall of Binny's wicket was not only ready to give Vijay company but also ready to score runs at will and take the English attack to the cleaners. Jadeja was aggressive from the word Go and brought some much needed momentum into the Indian innings.In the meanwhile,Vijay who looked well set for a fabulous hundred was agonizingly dismissed for 95 as it turned out to be a case of so near yet so far.Even though he didn't get his hundred,his knock was worth it's weight in gold and he surely held Indian innings together when it mattered the most. Vijay's wicket didn't trouble Jadeja as he continued his onslaught and along with B kumar carried India's tally to 267 at lunch.
Following lunch interval,the duo of Jadeja and B Kumar was in full flow. Jadeja,soon reached his half-century in a typical swashbuckling style and his knock surely was taking India to a position of strength.In the course of time,India's total went past 300 and Jadeja-Kumar partnership was taking the game away from England. Jadeja's entertaining innings was finally brought to an end by Stokes for 68 and that also ended a glorious 99-run stand between him and B Kumar.B kumar too completed his fifty,3rd of the series for him.His wicket brought curtains on Indian innings as India folded out for 342,leading England by a handsome margin of 318 runs.With 319 runs to win,pressure was back on the home team as Cook & co. had to play really well to get over the line.England got off to a shaky start though as opener Robson was trapped LBW off Jadeja's first delivery just at the stroke of Tea.
Jadeja exults after reaching halt-century
Post Tea,England and Cook in particular had torrid time as runs were hard to come by.Cook in company of Ballance stitched a hard-earned fifty run partnership as both of them were trying to calm down the nerves within the England dressing room.But soon after that,Ballance was dismissed off Shami's bowling,caught behind by Dhoni.Bell,who came in at No.4 was next man to go as he was castled by a beauty of a delivery from Ishant Sharma.Bell's wicket certainly lead to ringing of alarm bells within the English camp as England were suddenly three down.Ishant was all pumped up as he got rid of England captain just in his next over to leave England shattered at 72/4.Indians were at the top of their game as three quick wickets tightened their grip on the match.J Root and M Ali just about survived the remainder of the day as England ended the day that clearly belonged to Indians at 105/4.
Scores:
India 295 & 342
England 319 & 105/4
Stumps,Day 4.
Bell clean bowled by Ishant Sharma
Scores:
India 295 & 342
England 319 & 105/4
Stumps,Day 4.
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