Highlights, India vs England Live Score, 4th Test at Ahmedabad, Day 3, Full cricket score: Hosts win by an innings and 25 runs, qualify for WTC final

Most wickets for Indian spinners in a Test series:

72 v England, 1972/73 (5 Tests)
68 v England, 2016/17 (5 Tests)
67 v Australia, 1977/78 (5 Tests)
67 v England, 2020/21 (4 Tests)*

All at home.

Most 5-fors coming in won Tests:

41 : M Muralitharan
27 : Shane Warne
25 : R Ashwin*
25 : R Herath

Most wickets by R Ashwin in a Test series:

32 : #INDvENG , 2020/21*
31 : v South Africa (in India), 2015/16
29 : v Australia (in India), 2012/13

Most wickets in debut Test series for India:

27 : Axar Patel v Eng, 2020/21* (3 Tests)
27 : Dilip Doshi v Aus, 1979/80 (6 Tests)
24 : Shivlal Yadav v Aus, 1979/80 (5 Tests)
22 : R Ashwin v WI, 2011/12 (3 Tests)

Most 5-fors for Ashwin against an opponent in Tests for Ashwin:

6 : New Zealand
6 : England*
5 : Australia 
5 : South Africa

Ashwin continues. England lose their ninth wicket in the form of Leach, who edges the ball to Rahane at first slip. The vice-captain stays low and cleanly collects the ball. The off-spinner then rattles Anderson’s stumps, finishing with figures of five-for in the process.

DONE AND DUSTED! India win by an innings and 25 runs. They are through to the World Test Championship final and will face New Zealand.

After 54 overs,England 134/8 ( Dan Lawrence 50 , Jack Leach 2)

Axar continues. Lawrence brings up his second Test fifty after collecting a single off the second. A single to end the over as well. England trail by 26 runs

After 53 overs, England 132/8 ( Dan Lawrence 49 , Jack Leach 1)

Ashwin continues after the drinks break. He’s bowled a fairly long spell. Huge appeal for caught behind by Pant off the second delivery against Leach. The left-hander promptly takes a review which shows that there was no bat involved there. Maiden for Ashwin.

After 52 overs,England 132/8 ( Dan Lawrence 49 , Jack Leach 1)

Sundar returns to the attack. Lawrence goes on the backfoot and punches it through covers for a double. The right-hander will have to wait just a little longer for his half century. And it’s time for a drinks break.

After 51 overs,England 130/8 ( Dan Lawrence 47 , Jack Leach 1)

Ashwin continues. Lawrence continues to look good, way better than his teammates who battled up the order. He collects five off the over which includes a boundary. England trail by 30 runs.

After 50 overs,England 125/8 ( Dan Lawrence 42 , Jack Leach 1)

Axar returns. Three runs off the over, with Lawrence collecting two of them. The right-hander is closing in on a half century here, just eight runs shy.

After 49 overs,England 122/8 ( Dan Lawrence 40 , Jack Leach 0)

Just one off Ashwin’s 20th over, courtesy a leg bye. England trail by 38 runs. The off spinner bowled five balls at Leach, but the left hander survived.

After 48 overs,England 121/8 ( Dan Lawrence 40 , Jack Leach 0)

Ashwin into his 19th over. Just formalities left now as far the game is concerned but Lawrence senses this as an opportunity to get some more runs under his belt. The right hander smacks two back-to-back boundaries off the third and fourth. Nine runs off the over.

After 47 overs,England 112/8 ( Dan Lawrence 31 , Jack Leach 0)

Ashwin continues. Lawrence punches the first delivery towards long on for a single. It is followed by five dots as Leach defends. England trail by 48 runs.

After 46 overs,England 111/8 ( Dan Lawrence 30 , Jack Leach 0)

Axar continues and claims a five for, dismissing Bess off the very first delivery of his 21st over. Pant completes a good catch behind the stumps after an under edge of Bess’ bat. Superb over from the left-arm spinner. A wicket maiden for him.

After 45 overs,England 111/7 ( Dan Lawrence 30 , Dom Bess 2)

Ashwin continues. Bowls a maiden to Lawrence, who appears comfortable while defending the ball.

After 44 overs,England 111/7 ( Dan Lawrence 30 , Dom Bess 2)

Axar into his 20th over. The first delivery spins away from Foakes, takes the batsman’s outside edge and Rahane completes a sharp catch at first slip. Bess joins Lawrence at the crease after Foakes’ exit. Two runs off the over. India just three wickets away from a thumping win on Day 3. England trail by 49 runs.

After 43 overs,England 109/6 ( Dan Lawrence 30 , Ben Foakes (W) 13)

Ashwin continues from one end. Foakes wanted a double off the third after working the ball towards backward square leg but a good throw from Siraj in the deep allowed him to sneak only a single. England trail by 51 runs.

After 42 overs,England 108/6 ( Dan Lawrence 30 , Ben Foakes (W) 12)

Axar back into the attack. An absolute peach of a delivery off the second, it spins away from Lawrence’s outside edge. The left-arm spinner invites Lawrence for the drive off the next, induces an outside edge that runs away past the second slip for a double. Sharp spin and bounce for Axar off the fifth as well. Testing over by Axar, just two runs off it.

After 41 overs,England 106/6 ( Dan Lawrence 28 , Ben Foakes (W) 12)

Ashwin returns to the attack. Foakes and Lawrence are being extra cautious against Axar and Ashwin. They’re reading the length better too. Two runs off the over.

After 40 overs,England 104/6 ( Dan Lawrence 27 , Ben Foakes (W) 11)

Sundar returns to the attack. Foakes nudges the first delivery towards long on for a single, bringing up England’s 100 in the process. It is followed by four singles. Good rotation of strike in the over.

After 39 overs,England 99/6 ( Dan Lawrence 25 , Ben Foakes (W) 8)

Axar from the Reliance End. Bowls a maiden against Lawrence, giving no room to the right-hander to free his arms. England trail by 61 runs.

After 38 overs,England 99/6 ( Dan Lawrence 25 , Ben Foakes (W) 8)

Ashwin continues. After four dots, Lawrence drives the ball down the ground for a single. Just one run off it. England operating cautiously here.

After 37 overs,England 98/6 ( Dan Lawrence 24 , Ben Foakes (W) 8)

Axar continues. Lawrence works the first delivery towards mid on for a single while Foakes chooses to see off the remaining five deliveries. England trail by 62 runs.

After 36 overs,England 97/6 ( Dan Lawrence 23 , Ben Foakes (W) 8)

Ashwin returns to the attack. The off spinner gives a bit of width to Lawrence off the fifth and the right hander nudges the ball towards cover for a single. Tight over from Ashwin, just the one off it.

After 35 overs,England 96/6 ( Dan Lawrence 22 , Ben Foakes (W) 8)

Patel back into the attack. After four dots, Lawrence tucks the fifth delivery towards long on for a single. England trail by 64 runs.

After 34 overs,England 95/6 ( Dan Lawrence 21 , Ben Foakes (W) 8)

Kohli throws the ball to Sundar after tea. Four runs off the over. Lawrence is looking in good touch. England trail by 65 runs. Just four wickets to win for India.

After 33 overs,England 91/6 ( Dan Lawrence 19 , Ben Foakes (W) 6)

Change of ends for Ashwin. He is back into the attack. Three from the over which also included an appeal for lbw against Lawrence. He was hit on the pads from around the wicket. Kohli wasn’t convinced but still went for the review. The replays showed that it was missing leg. Time for tea!

After 32 overs,England 88/6 ( Dan Lawrence 17 , Ben Foakes (W) 5)

Bowling change. Washington has been asked to roll his arm instead of Ashwin. Four dot deliveries and then a single as Foakes clips it to deep square leg. Lawrence finishes the over with a boundary. It was a slog sweep and fine leg fielder Mayank Agarwal put in a terrific dive but couldn’t reach the catch.

After 31 overs,England 83/6 ( Dan Lawrence 13 , Ben Foakes (W) 4)

Axar continues. Five runs from the over. Foakes takes a triple by clipping one off his pads to the deep square leg. Lawrence gets a brace with a cut shot past backward point.

After 30 overs,England 78/6 ( Dan Lawrence 11 , Ben Foakes (W) 1)

Ashwin continues. Four runs from the over as Lawrence plays the cut shot to the half-tracker. There was an outside edge but it ran past Rahane in slip.

After 29 overs,England 74/6 ( Dan Lawrence 7 , Ben Foakes (W) 1)

Maiden over for Axar as Foakes plays it out safely. England now trail by 86 runs. There are 38 more overs left in the day. Will it get over today?

Most LBW dismissals for India in a Test series:

25 : This series* (#INDvENG)
24 : v Australia, 1979/80
24 : v England, 2016/17

Still four more wickets to go.

After 28 overs,England 74/6 ( Dan Lawrence 7 , Ben Foakes (W) 1)

Ashwin continues. Just one from the over with Foakes getting off the mark with a single. Ashwin is bowling from around the wicket and it could be because it’s spinning a lot and it is easier to control it like this.

After 27 overs,England 72/6 ( Dan Lawrence 6 , Ben Foakes (W) 0)

Axar continues. A boundary for Lawrence in the over as he capitalises on the short ball from Axar with a cut shot on off. Lawrence played an attacking knock in the first innings and got some useful runs. Foakes has impressed on spinning tracks so far but it’s too big a task for anyone.

After 26 overs,England 67/6 ( Dan Lawrence 1 , Ben Foakes (W) 0)

England are on their last leg here. Ashwin dismisses Root who was guilty of hanging back. It was not the right decision, he missed the line and got trapped in front. Root took a review but it was obviously out, all three reds. Ben Foakes is the new man in.

WICKET! Root lbw b Ashwin 30(72)

England lose their skipper. It’s just a formality now. Root decided to hang back but missed the line. It looked plumb but the Englishman decided to review, however, that was not going to help him.

After 25 overs,England 65/5 ( Joe Root (C) 30 , Dan Lawrence 0)

Another wicket for India. Axar dismisses Pope. The batsman was getting restless. He was beaten on the outside edge by Axar, was finding it difficult to handle the spin. Finally decided to step out, but the turn and bounce took the ball away as Pant whipped doff the bails. The keeper had very little time to react but excellent work. Dan Lawrence is the new man in.

OUT! Ollie Pope st Pant b Axar 15(31)

Pant keeping has been an exhibition in the series and he pulls off a blinder here. Pope shimmied down but was beaten on turn and bounce and Pant did exceeding well to collect it despite it hitting his chest and whipped off the bails.

After 24 overs,England 64/4 ( Joe Root (C) 29 , Ollie Pope 15)

Ashwin continues. It’s turning viciously for Ashwin out here. The first delivery was missed by everyone as it ran down to fine leg for four byes. Another one kisses Pope’s pads and runs down to the same region for two leg byes.

After 23 overs,England 58/4 ( Joe Root (C) 29 , Ollie Pope 15)

It’s never easy to sweep Axar, Root has learnt it the hard away, but Pope hasn’t. Went for a sweep shot and that produced a top edge but thankfully for the batsman it went past the keeper. Rahane did well to cut it off before it touched the boundary rope. Four from the over.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Most ducks for England in a Test series in India:

3 : Mike Smith, 1961/62
3 : Jonny Bairstow, 2020/21

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

India’s highest run-getter this series so far:

345 : Rohit Sharma
270 : Rishabh Pant 
189 : R Ashwin
181 : Washington Sundar

Washington Sundar this Test series:

85*
0
0
96*

It was a brilliant effort by Washington Sundar.

Got to feel for @Sundarwashi5. He thoroughly deserved a century. But, well played young man. You’ll get there someday #DoddaMathu #INDvENG

— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) March 6, 2021

Will it be over today!

67 overs left. English shoulders were drooping this morning. We might even have a result today.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) March 6, 2021

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.

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.

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)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

After 107 overs,India 342/7 ( Washington Sundar 85 , Axar Patel 33)

Stokes continues. A well-directed bouncer by the seamer off the third and Sundar does well to leave it in the end. Four runs off the over, courtesy two doubles from the blade of Sundar, who is just 15 runs short of his century now. India lead by 137 runs.

Highest average stands for teams for last four wickets in Tests since 2016:

24.66 : India*
24.25 : New Zealand
23.95 : Ireland

After 106 overs,India 338/7 ( Washington Sundar 81 , Axar Patel 33)

Leach continues from one end. A midfield by the left-arm spinner allows Sundar to collect a boundary off the second as the ball went through Leach’s legs. Five runs off the over.

After 105 overs,India 333/7 ( Washington Sundar 76 , Axar Patel 33)

Ben Stokes in action for the first time today and he begins with an economical over. Appeal for caught behind by the wicketkeeper off the fifth delivery but it came off Axar’s thigh pad. Just one off the over. India lead by 128 runs.

After 104 overs,India 332/7 ( Washington Sundar 75 , Axar Patel 33)

Leach continues. Sundar collects a single off the first after advancing down the pitch and hitting it towards the on side. Axar does the same, dances down the track off the second, and lofts it down the ground for a flat six. Nine runs off the over. India lead by 127 runs.

After 103 overs,India 323/7 ( Washington Sundar 73 , Axar Patel 26)

Anderson continues. The pacer sucks Axar into the drive off the third delivery and the ball nearly takes Axar’s outside edge. A bouncer off the fifth against Axar, who ducks and lets it go. Just one off the over, courtesy a leg bye.

India’s No 8-11 winning the battle this time around

Batting average for No.8-11 in India v England series:

2018 - England (24.65), India (11.82)

2021 - India (19.11), England (10.27)#INDvENG

— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) March 6, 2021

After 102 overs,India 322/7 ( Washington Sundar 73 , Axar Patel 26)

Leach continues. Axar gets in a big stride forward on the fourth delivery as he looks to clip it away, but the ball hits the left-hander on the pads. It is followed by a half-hearted appeal from Leach. Just one off the over.

After 101 overs,India 321/7 ( Washington Sundar 72 , Axar Patel 26)

Anderson continues. Bowls a short one to test Sundar off the second, there is awkward bounce undoubtedly, but Sundar pulls it behind square for a single. Beats Axar with an outside off length delivery on the fifth ball. Just one off the over. India lead by 116 runs.

After 100 overs,India 320/7 ( Washington Sundar 71 , Axar Patel 26)

Leach returns to the attack. Axar shows aggression off the second delivery as he charges down the track and lofts the ball over mid on for a boundary. A freebie from the left-arm spinner, short and wide outside off to Axar off the last. The southpaw gleefully accepts it and collects a boundary. Eight runs off the over.

After 99 overs,India 312/7 ( Washington Sundar 71 , Axar Patel 18)

Anderson continues. After playing out a dot, Axar plays a wristy punch down the ground for a single. A sharp bouncer off the third catches Sundar off guard as the southpaw gets himself in an awkward position. Awkward bounce on the fourth delivery as it stays low and hits Sundar in the mid-riff. The physio is called but seems nothing serious. Axar collects a single on the last delivery. Three runs off the over.

Not good planning from England

Bess making the job easier for the Indian batsmen. You need to have your best bowlers bowling at the beginning of the day; and England have started poorly. The lead already a mammoth one on this pitch #DoddaMathu #INDvENG

— Dodda Ganesh | ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗಣೇಶ್ (@doddaganesha) March 6, 2021

After 98 overs,India 309/7 ( Washington Sundar 70 , Axar Patel 16)

Poor bowling from Bess as he allowed Sundar to collect two boundaries in the over. A well timed maximum down the ground was followed by a fine cover drive. 10 runs off the over. India are targeting Bess here.

After 97 overs,India 299/7 ( Washington Sundar 60 , Axar Patel 16)

Anderson continues. After three dots, Anderson bowls a bouncer at Axar, who ducks under it and watches it go. So far, Anderson has mixed up his lengths really well. Second maiden on the trot for him.

After 96 overs,India 299/7 ( Washington Sundar 60 , Axar Patel 16)

Five runs off Bess’ over, including a boundary from the blade of Axar who played a backfoot punch down the ground.

After 95 overs,India 294/7 ( Washington Sundar 60 , Axar Patel 11)

Anderson with the first over on Day 3. Tests Sundar outside off on in the six deliveries. Sundar appears patient and leaves them well, barring the final delivery where the southpaw was beaten. Maiden over for Anderson.

England’s spin-bowling coach Jeetan Patel on Friday doffed his hat to young wicket-keeper batsman Rishabh Pant for taking the game away with his aggressive batting display on the second day of the fourth Test.

Rishabh Pant hit 13 fours and two sixes in his enterprising innings of 101 off 118 balls to send Twitter into a frenzy. His ton invited reactions from Sourav Ganguly, Virender Sehwag, and many more from the cricket fraternity.

Click here to read them

Rohit Sharma: Team management fine with Rishabh Pant’s approach

Rishabh Pant’s attacking style of batting has the Indian team management’s mandate as long as he gets the “job done” more often than not, feels senior batsman Rohit Sharma.

“Pant has his own style of batting. Obviously there have been messages, as to how he needs to approach his innings. He seems to be batting in his own style which is great from our perspective as well, because he seems to be getting the job done, which is more important,” Rohit said.

We have more Pant stories coming your way! It was such a special innings. He started off slowly as India were in trouble. Made his first fifty runs off 82 deliveries and then came into his elements with some incredible hitting to finish on 101 off 118. Pant showed with his innings that he can play according to a situation and the notion that he can only play in one way is a myth. 

Yash Jha in his analysis writes about how ‘audacious’ Rishabh Pant galloped further towards realising his generational promise with the knock in the fourth test.

 See the ball and react, that’s my USP, says Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant after Day 2’s play said he has got the license to go for his shots on most occasions but considering the game situation on Friday, he had to bide time before going for the most outlandish of strokes during his sensational innings.

“I get the license most of the time, but I have to assess the situation and take the game head on. I like to make the team win and if the crowd is entertained by that, I’m happy,” Pant said.

“If the bowlers are bowling well respect it and take the singles, and that was on my mind. I like to play the situation and I just see the ball and react – that’s the USP (unique selling point) of my game.”