Dhruv Jurel’s 90, Kuldeep Yadav’s 4-22, and Ravichandran Ashwin’s 5-51 switches the momentum of the fourth Test in India’s favour.
With India 219 -7 and trailing by 134, the momentum was with England, as they were looking to bowl them out quickly, to put themselves in control in Ranchi.
On the other hand, Jurel and Kuldeep were looking to frustrate them by reducing the deficit.
James Anderson gave the tourists the breakthrough by removing Kuldeep at 253-8.
Embed from Getty ImagesDhruv Jurel reached his maiden Test 50.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe began to shift gears after that.
Embed from Getty ImagesEngland simply had no idea of where to bowl to him.
Embed from Getty ImagesAkash Deep also hit some lusty blows.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut Bashir held his nerve to trap Deep LBW for nine at 293-9.
Embed from Getty ImagesDhruv Jurel inched closer to his maiden Test ton.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut Hartley got him for 90 with a beauty, to bowl India out for 307, with a deficit of just 46.
Embed from Getty ImagesSo, with England having a decent lead, could they capitalize on it in their second innings?
Well, they did not get off to the best of starts, as Ashwin gave the hosts the breakthrough with the wicket of Duckett at 19-1.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe made it two-in-two by trapping Ollie Pope inside the crease off the very next ball,19-2.
Embed from Getty ImagesZak Crawley began to take on the bowlers, with some fluent drives.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut just as he and Joe Root were settling down, England’s ace batsman was out LBW whilst playing across the line from Ashwin at 65-3. Although Umpire Kumara Dharmasena gave it Not Out.
Embed from Getty ImagesJonny Bairstow walked out to bat in a confident mood.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe was carving the ball to all parts of the ground.
Embed from Getty ImagesCrawley reached 50 in 70 balls.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut Kuldeep got the breakthrough by removing the Kent opener for 60, at 110-4.
Embed from Getty ImagesKuldeep got his second scalp soon after, when he dismissed the England captain for four at 120-5.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhen Ben Foakes saw out the last over before Lunch at 120-5.
Embed from Getty ImagesWith Foakes and Bairstow came out after lunch, England were hoping they could stitch together a partnership, to get them out of trouble.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut the Yorkshire wicketkeeper was out to a tame dismissal off Ravindra Jadeja with the score 120-6 off the first ball after lunch. It was a clever piece off bowling by the canny all-rounder who tempted him to play the cover drive on the rise.
Embed from Getty ImagesHartley attempted to give the innings some impetus, by taking some chances against Kuldeep.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut he went for one shot too many off the Left-arm Wrist spinner and was brilliantly caught by Sarfaraz Khan at Md-on.
Embed from Getty ImagesKuldeep had his fourth scalp with the wicket of Ollie Robinson at 133-8.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd Foakes attempted on-side flick presented a simple caught and bowled chance to Ashwin to which he snaffled up at 145-9.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe veteran off-spinner completed yet another five-wicket haul, to bowl England out for 145, giving India a target of 192 to win.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Indian captain took advantage of some average bowling from England’s in-experienced spinners.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe in-form Yashasvi Jaiswal joined in at the other end.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis was not an ideal start for Stokes, as he needed his spinners to be on the money from ball one.
Jaiswal saw out the last over of the day, with the score at 40-0, with India requiring a further 152 runs for victory.
So, Day five ends with India Wel on course for a Series victory. England need early wickets in the morning though stand any chance of pulling of an unlikely victory.
Can they pull it off, or will India seal the Series with a victory in Ranchi?
Image Credit: Deposit Photos