Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar staged a stoic rearguard effort on the final day of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, raising hopes of a morale-lifting draw for India, who had found themselves trailing by 137 runs at the start of play.
Their unbroken partnership frustrated England’s attack through a wicketless second session, propelling India to a slender 11-run lead at tea. The scoreboard read 322 for four, as 99 runs were collected without loss across the afternoon, pushing the match towards an intriguing final phase.
Jadeja stood resolute on 53* off 102 deliveries, while Washington Sundar compiled a composed 58* off 139 balls, both men showcasing impeccable temperament and shot selection. With Rishabh Pant injured and little batting left to follow, the pair's perseverance was not just tactical—it was vital.
Ben Stokes, who had earlier bowled through pain in a lion-hearted spell to remove KL Rahul, lacked the same intensity in the afternoon. One over from the England captain yielded 15 runs, as Sundar dispatched him for a six and a four to reach his half-century. Moments later, Jadeja reached his fifth half-century in six innings, cutting crisply to the boundary.
England’s bowlers toiled without success. Left-arm spinner Liam Dawson delivered 39 overs for 70 runs without reward, his line and variation posing little threat to the Indian left-handers. Jofra Archer, too, remained wicketless after lunch, despite troubling the Indian top-order earlier in the day.
The second new ball, now 38 overs old, offered no assistance as the pitch flattened out under bright skies.
Earlier, Shubman Gill completed a fine century, his fourth of the series, continuing a remarkable run in his maiden Test series as captain. His 103 stood out not only for its technical assurance but also its significance, considering India’s precarious position.
The innings, however, ended on the stroke of lunch when Gill, anticipating the ball to move back in, nicked an Archer delivery that held its line. His dismissal left India still 88 runs adrift at the interval.
Also read: Gill joins Bradman, Gavaskar in century hall of fame
Gill’s partnership with KL Rahul had revived Indian hopes, the duo adding 188 runs after the early dismissals of Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan for ducks. Rahul, too, missed a well-deserved century, falling leg-before to a low shooter from Stokes after a 230-ball 90.
Stokes, who had been unfit to bowl on day four due to a shoulder and hamstring concern, returned with a fiery eight-over burst. He even struck Gill on the helmet after the ball first ricocheted off the batter's right thumb—an incident that momentarily left the Indian captain in visible discomfort.
Joe Root nearly handed England a breakthrough off the first ball after lunch, but his effort to catch Jadeja at slip off Archer went down—a miss England would rue by tea.
India had earlier been bowled out for 358 in their first innings in response to England’s imposing 669, and were asked to follow on.
Whether this spirited resistance from the Indian middle order can stretch the match to safety remains to be seen, but for now, Jadeja and Sundar have offered a lifeline.
Scoreboard at tea on day five of the fourth Test between India and England here on Sunday.
India 1st innings: 358 England 1st innings 669 India 2nd innings (overnight 174/2 in 63 overs) Yashasvi Jaiswal c Root b Chris Woakes 0 KL Rahul lbw b Stokes 90 Sai Sudharsan c Harry Brook b Chris Woakes 0 Shubman Gill c Jamie Smith b Jofra Archer 103 Washington Sundar batting 57 Ravindra Jadeja batting 53 Extras: (b-10, w-2, nb-6) 18 Total: 322/4 in 118 overs Fall of wickets: 0-1, 0-2, 188-3, 222-4 Bowling: Chris Woakes 19-4-57-2, Jofra Archer 20-3-74-1, Brydon Carse 17-3-44-0, Liam Dawson 39-10-70-0, Joe Root1 12-2-33-0, Ben Stokes 11-2-34.
Follow us
