Sports: Team India ended day four in deep trouble at 58 for 4, chasing a modest target of 193 against England in the third Test, held in England on July 13. The visitors lost key wickets early in their second innings, setting up a tense final day in the closely fought series.
KL Rahul remained unbeaten on 33, anchoring the innings as wickets tumbled around him. Night-watchman Akash Deep, who came in late in the day, was bowled by Ben Stokes on the last ball before stumps, compounding India’s woes.
India’s chase got off to a disastrous start with opener Yashasvi Jaiswal dismissed for a duck, followed by Karun Nair (14) and captain Shubman Gill (6), leaving the side trailing by 135 runs with only six wickets in hand.
Earlier in the day, England were bundled out for 192 in their second innings. The collapse came despite a solid start, with the last four wickets falling for just 17 runs. Washington Sundar led the bowling attack with a brilliant spell, returning figures of 4 for 22. Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj supported well with two wickets apiece, while Akash Deep also chipped in with one.
England resumed the third session at 175 for 6, but their lower order failed to offer resistance. Sundar removed England skipper Ben Stokes for 33 shortly after tea and wrapped up the innings by dismissing Shoaib Bashir for 2. Bumrah accounted for the wickets of Chris Woakes (10) and Brydon Carse (1) to seal the innings.
With both teams having scored 387 in their first innings, the Test remains on a knife’s edge. However, India’s faltering chase has shifted momentum England’s way heading into the final day.
Brief Scores:
England: 387 & 192 all out in 62.1 overs (Joe Root 40, Ben Stokes 33; Washington Sundar 4/22, Mohammed Siraj 2/31, Jasprit Bumrah 2/38)
India: 387 & 58/4 in 17.4 overs (KL Rahul 33*; Brydon Carse 2/11)
Target: 193 runs