India vs England Live Score, 4th Test at Ahmedabad, Day 3: Ashwin dismisses Crawley, Bairstow in quick succession
Crawley #Crawley
13:28 (IST)
After 22 overs,England 54/4 ( Joe Root (C) 28 , Ollie Pope 12)
Ashwin continues. Pope is trying out everything here. A reverse paddle was hit straight to the man at point. He then went down the strip got himself a six. Tried a reverse sweep on the last delivery but got beaten on the turn.
13:25 (IST)
SIX! Excellent shot. Pope uses his feet to get to the pitch of the flighted delivery and hammers it to the wide of long on
13:24 (IST)
After 21 overs,England 48/4 ( Joe Root (C) 28 , Ollie Pope 6)
Axar changes end and replaces Siraj into the attack, so we have both spinners bowling again in tandem. A quick over and it finishes as a maiden.
13:23 (IST)
After 20 overs,England 48/4 ( Joe Root (C) 28 , Ollie Pope 6)
Ashwin replaces Axar into the attack. A quick single on the first delivery as Pope pushes the fuller delivery to mid-on. Root takes a single on off. Ashwin created an opportunity on the last delivery as Pope chipped one to Gill at the forward short leg but it went through him.
13:15 (IST)
After 19 overs,England 46/4 ( Joe Root (C) 27 , Ollie Pope 5)
There was always a chance of releasing the pressure with the pacer coming into the attack, but may be Kohli is looking to make the most of the new ball. Five from Siraj’s over as Root and Pope pick up singles and doubles. Time for a drinks break.
13:11 (IST)
After 18 overs,England 41/4 ( Joe Root (C) 24 , Ollie Pope 3)
No rest for Axar though, he is continuing to bowl from the other end. A boundary off the first delivery with Root playing the sweep shot. He also got hit by a Kohli throw in the over but nothing to be worried about.
13:07 (IST)
FOUR! Good sweep shot from Root. He sees the fuller delivery from Axar and gets into the position early to play it through the midwicket
13:06 (IST)
After 17 overs,England 37/4 ( Joe Root (C) 20 , Ollie Pope 3)
Bowling change. That’s a surprise but Kohli has called Siraj back into the attack in place of Ashwin. Even Sunny G in the commentary is surprised. Pope pushes the first delivery to the backward point for a single. Root gets a single on the last delivery with a push to mid-off. Two from the over.
13:01 (IST)
After 16 overs,England 35/4 ( Joe Root (C) 19 , Ollie Pope 2)
Maiden over for Axar. Root is using his feet against the spinner. Hanging back and pressing forward when required. He is playing for the trajectory and not the spin.
12:59 (IST)
After 15 overs,England 35/4 ( Joe Root (C) 19 , Ollie Pope 2)
Ashwin into his sixth over now. Will Pope be able to do what Stokes couldn’t? We will know in a bit. Meanwhile, two singles came from the over. If you take singles, you keep the spinners guessing.
12:57 (IST)
After 14 overs,England 33/4 ( Joe Root (C) 18 , Ollie Pope 1)
Axar continues and takes another wicket. England needed Root and Stokes to stitch a partnership but that won’t be possible now. A soft dismissal for Stokes as he scoops his shot to Kohli at leg gully. That was really poor from Stokes. With a fielder there, Stokes knew about the danger. Axar also managed to find Root’s top edge but it fell in a safe area.
12:52 (IST)
OUT! Stokes c Kohli b Axar 2(9)
A no shot from Stoke leads to his dismissal. He was looking to play a scoop shot but ended up placing it into the hands of Kohli at leg gully. England four down.
12:51 (IST)
After 13 overs,England 30/3 ( Joe Root (C) 16 , Ben Stokes 2)
Ashwin has dismissed Stokes 11 times in Test cricket. So let’s see how long Stokes’ stay is going to be here. He was beaten on the outside edge once in the over before taking a quick single on the last delivery.
12:49 (IST)
After 12 overs,England 29/3 ( Joe Root (C) 16 , Ben Stokes 1)
Axar continues. Stokes and Root are England’s best hopes here. The visitors need a big partnership but Indian spinners are looking more and more threatening with each over. Stokes gets off the mark in the over with a flick to deep square leg.
12:46 (IST)
After 11 overs,England 28/3 ( Joe Root (C) 16 , Ben Stokes 0)
Eight runs from Ashwin’s over. Root is looking to play his shots. He got a short one and drove it through covers. The other one was flighted and he drilled it through covers for back-to-back boundaries.
12:45 (IST)
FOUR! This one was tossed up by Ashwin but on off as Root drove it through covers for another boundary
12:44 (IST)
FOUR! Short delivery from Ashwin and all Root had to do was to hang back and crash it through covers
12:43 (IST)
After 10 overs,England 20/3 ( Joe Root (C) 8 , )
England are three down but the wicket of Sibley is one of the weirdest that you will ever see. He went for a full-blooded sweep which hit Gill’s pads at short leg, bounced up in the air only for Pant to take the catch at silly point. Sibley was so disappointed that he started to walk back without even waiting for the TV umpire’s decision.
12:41 (IST)
OUT! Sibley c Pant b Axar 3(21)
Axar strikes, but this was a freaky dismissal. A sweep shot from Sibley hit the short leg, popped up and keeper Pant took at silly point position. You feel bad for the batsman.
12:38 (IST)
After 9 overs,England 19/2 ( Dom Sibley 3 , Joe Root (C) 7)
Ashwin continues. Sibley seems to be employing the strategy of batting on the middle and off to negate the spin. It did help him play a few turning deliveries. Two from the over.
12:34 (IST)
After 8 overs,England 17/2 ( Dom Sibley 2 , Joe Root (C) 6)
Axar continues. Root clearly looks in the mood here. He has come out with the intent to attack the opposition, play his shots. Two from the over after a top edge as Root attempted a sweep shot lands in a no man’s area at deep square.
12:31 (IST)
After 7 overs,England 15/2 ( Dom Sibley 2 , Joe Root (C) 4)
Ashwin continues. Three singles in the over so England have started to rotate the strike. It’s important they do that and doesn’t allow Ashwin or Axar to settle into a rhythm. Even that may not be enough but England have to try to release the pressure here.
12:30 (IST)
Most ducks for England in a Test series in India:
3 : Mike Smith, 1961/62
3 : Jonny Bairstow, 2020/21
12:28 (IST)
After 6 overs,England 12/2 ( Dom Sibley 1 , Joe Root (C) 2)
Axar continues. Root gets off the mark with a single to mid-off but he could have been out. There was a massive appeal for lbw. Umpire gave it not out and the Indian team decided against reviewing it but the replays show it was out.
12:27 (IST)
After 5 overs,England 11/2 ( Dom Sibley 1 , Joe Root (C) 1)
Even if Axar doesn’t hit the top gear, there’s always the master — Ashwin. Two wickets in the over for the veteran spinner and England are two down with a deficit of 149 runs. Both the wickets were a result of some exceptional spin bowling. The first one deceived Crawley by making him feel it will turn but it didn’t and the batsman pushed hard, ended up edging it to the slip. Bairstow got out on first delivery. This one turned and Bairstow flicked it to leg slip.
12:20 (IST)
OUT! Bairstow c Rohit b Ashwin 0(1)
Two in two for Ashwin. A first ball duck for Bairstow. This time Ashwin opts to toss it up, gives air, gets turn. Bairstow was tentative in his shot selection and glanced it to Rohit at leg slip.
12:18 (IST)
OUT! Zak Crawley c Rahane b Ashwin 5(16)
It has begun. Ashwin uses the new ball to perfection. He is a master at it. Crawley was expecting the ball to turn and played down the wrong line. There wasn’t enough turn and the ball took the outside edge to Ajinkya Rahane.
12:17 (IST)
After 4 overs,England 6/0 ( Zak Crawley 5 , Dom Sibley 1)
Sibley is in no mood to take any risks against Axar as the spinner starts off with a maiden. India would hope for Axar to find his top gear and then the match could be over today. England, however, need to show patience. Openers need to apply themselves.
12:12 (IST)
Welcome back! Axar Patel has been asked to open the bowling in the second session of Day 3. Sibley is on strike. England still trail by 154 runs.
11:38 (IST)
Lunch, Day 3 (ENG 6/0 after 3 overs)
England trail by 154 runs. The first session belonged to India. Indian fans have got to feel for Sundar, who ran out of partners in the end and stayed unbeaten on 96. Sundar’s century stand with Axar certainly helped India’s case.
Stay tuned as we’ll bring you the live coverage from the second session on Day 3 of fourth Test.
11:34 (IST)
After 3 overs,England 6/0 ( Zak Crawley 5 , Dom Sibley 1)
Siraj continues from the Reliance End. The Hyderabad pacer strays on the pacer off the fourth, Sibley flicks it well but Sundar’s diving effort at fine leg allows Sibley to sneak only a single. Siraj really happy with that effort. Siraj dives after completing his follow through and gets his hand in the way of Sibley’ straight drive. Oh, and the pacer seems to have injured himself. He walks back with the physio. Four runs off the over.
11:27 (IST)
After 2 overs,England 2/0 ( Zak Crawley 2 , Dom Sibley 0)
Axar, the local boy, with the ball now. A marginally short delivery allows Crawley to sneak an easy single after clipping it off the third delivery. Sibley closes the face of the bat too early off the fourth but the stroke wasn’t uppish. Just one off the over.
11:23 (IST)
After 1 overs,England 1/0 ( Zak Crawley 1 , Dom Sibley 0)
Mohammed Siraj begins the proceedings for India. A nip backer off the last and Crawley gets off the mark with a flick for a single. Testing, disciplined first over by Siraj, just one off it.
11:21 (IST)
India’s highest run-getter this series so far:
345 : Rohit Sharma
270 : Rishabh Pant
189 : R Ashwin
181 : Washington Sundar
11:19 (IST)
Right, Virat Kohli and Co take the field as England openers Zak Crawley and Dominic Sibley walk out to the middle.
11:19 (IST)
Washington Sundar this Test series:
85*
0
0
96*
11:14 (IST)
It was a brilliant effort by Washington Sundar.
11:13 (IST)
Will it be over today!
11:11 (IST)
IND 365 after 114.4 overs (Sundar 96)
Stokes continues. Traps Ishant LBW off the first and rattles Siraj’s stumps off the fourth as Sundar stays unbeaten on 96. That’s it then. India have been bundled out for 365, the hosts have taken a good lead of 160 runs.
11:09 (IST)
OUT! Sundar stays unbeaten on 96 as Siraj gets clean bowled by Stokes. Siraj b Stokes 0(3)
11:06 (IST)
OUT! Ishant departs for a duck. Stokes traps Ishant LBW with a delivery that seams back in. Ishant lbw b Stokes 0(1)
11:05 (IST)
After 114 overs,India 365/8 ( Washington Sundar 96 , Ishant Sharma 0)
Root into his 18th over. Mix up between Sundar and Axar off the final delivery and Axar departs after failing to reach back to the non-striker’s end as Root collects a ball cleanly and dislodges the bails in a jiffy. Two runs and a wicket in the over.
11:03 (IST)
RUN OUT! Bit of a mix up between Sundar and Axar and it is Axar, who will have to depart as Root collects a throw cleanly and dislodges the stumps. Axar run out (Bairstow/Root) 43(97)
10:58 (IST)
Century stands for seventh and eighth wicket, in the same Test innings:
Australia v India, Sydney, 2008 (1st innings)
England v Australia, Sydney, 2011 (2nd innings)
India v England, Ahmedabad, 2021* (2nd innings)
10:58 (IST)
After 113 overs,India 363/7 ( Washington Sundar 95 , Axar Patel 42)
Stokes continues. A fantastic diving effort by Bess at square leg saves a certain boundary off the fourth delivery, but Sundar adds a triple to his tally after playing a well-controlled pull shot. With that, the 100-run stand comes up between Axar and Sundar. Six runs off the over.
10:52 (IST)
After 112 overs,India 357/7 ( Washington Sundar 91 , Axar Patel 40)
Root continues. Runs continue to flow for the Indians, six runs off the England skipper’s over. The Sundar-Axar stand is worth 98 at the end of the over. India lead by 152 runs.
10:49 (IST)
After 111 overs,India 351/7 ( Washington Sundar 90 , Axar Patel 37)
Stokes into his 26th over. The broadcaster showed Stokes’ pitch map and over 60% of his deliveries have been on the shorter side. He’s effectively utilised the bouncer to surprise the batsmen time and again. All the six deliveries were short ones in this over as well. Two runs off the over. Sundar, meanwhile, is closing in on a century, he’s just 10 runs short.
10:44 (IST)
After 110 overs,India 349/7 ( Washington Sundar 89 , Axar Patel 36)
Root continues. The second delivery hits one of the cracks and spins past Axar’s outside edge. Good over from Root, just two runs off it, he mixed up his lengths really well. India lead by 144 runs.
10:40 (IST)
After 109 overs,India 347/7 ( Washington Sundar 88 , Axar Patel 35)
We’re back after the drinks break and Stokes has the ball. A well-directed bouncer into the body of Axar, who gets a thick edge towards third man and collects a single. Sundar returns the favour off the third delivery. Meanwhile, the partnership is worth 88 at the end of the over. The first hour has belonged to India. The hosts haven’t lost any wickets, while scoring at a decent pace.
10:32 (IST)
After 108 overs,India 344/7 ( Washington Sundar 86 , Axar Patel 34)
Root in action with his off spin. The England skipper bowls an economical over, conceding two off it. It’s time for a drinks break. India lead by 139 runs.
India vs England Live Score, Live Cricket Score, 4th Test at Motera Live Updates: Ashwin continues. Pope is trying out everything here. A reverse paddle was hit straight to the man at point. He then went down the strip got himself a six. Tried a reverse sweep on the last delivery but got beaten on the turn.
Day 2 report: Rishabh Pant hit a defiant 101 to put India in control of the fourth and final Test against England on Friday.
India reached 294 for seven at the end of the second day in response to England’s 205. Washington Sundar was at the crease on 60 with Axar Patel on 11.
India, leading 2-1 in the series, struggled to make runs and lost crucial wickets early in the day, including skipper Virat Kohli, who failed to score.
But Pant put on 113 for the seventh wicket with Sundar to hit back after the England bowlers reduced India to 146 for six at one stage.
“I like to play the situation and I just see the ball and react— that’s the unique selling point of my game,” said Pant.
“The team plan was to get to 206, pass the England total and then get as many runs as possible.” India made it work again in the Ahmedabad stadium where they crushed England in two days in the third Test.
James Anderson claimed three wickets while fellow pace bowler Ben Stokes and spinner Jack Leach took two each and England seemed to be in contention for much of the day.
But left-handed wicketkeeper batsman Pant made light of the tough conditions and reached his third Test hundred with a six off Joe Root’s spin.
Pant, who smacked Anderson for his 13th boundary with an audacious reverse hit over the slips, finally fell to the veteran quick and walked off to a standing ovation.
“In my opinion it was one of his finest knocks and it came under pressure as well. We weren’t in a good position when he came to bat,” said Rohit Sharma, who made 49.
“He was quite cautious at the beginning and then he flourished the way we know Rishabh Pant and put the team into a good position.”
Pant, who made 91 in the first Test, has a reputation of throwing away his wicket after a good start due to his attacking style.
Sharma said Pant is “more than ready” to fill the void created by former captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s retirement from international cricket last year.
“He seems to be doing the job for us,” he said.
‘Warhorse’ Stokes
England spin bowling coach Jeetan Patel said Pant had ruined their plans with his “huge” innings.
“We need to take those three wickets as fast as we can. Anything over 100 on a wearing wicket like that, it can be quite interesting.”
Sundar kept up the attack reaching his third Test 50.
Suffering from an illness that appeared to take a mounting toll, Stokes earlier took two key wickets, including Kohli, and catching Ajinkya Rahane in the slips added to his key role after hitting 55 on day one.
He combined with Anderson, who bowled 11 maidens in 20 overs to make India work for their runs after they resumed the day on 24-1.
Spinner Jack Leach took the day’s first wicket after trapping Cheteshwar Pujara lbw for 17 with the overnight batsman adding two to his score.
Stokes generated pace and bounced on the controversial wicket.
A day after his confrontation with Kohli, Stokes sent back the captain for his second duck of the series when he edged a rising delivery to wicketkeeper Ben Foakes.
Another Stokes delivery hit Sharma on the helmet and he took a sharp catch at second slip to dismiss Rahane for 27 off Anderson on the stroke of lunch.
The all-rounder denied Sharma his fifty when he trapped him lbw.
But Stokes looked tired in the final session and Patel said the “warhorse” was “pretty crocked”.
India need to avoid defeat to book a meeting with New Zealand in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June.
With inputs from AFP