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Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja Slam Fifties to Pull India Ahead After Morning Collapse
India Mounts a Strong Comeback with Unbeaten 100-Run Stand
India found new momentum on Day 4 of the final Test against England, thanks to gritty half-centuries from Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja. After early trouble and pressure from England’s bowlers in the morning session, the left-handed pair batted India into the lead with an unbeaten 100-run partnership, steering the team to 322/4 at tea.
Their calm yet confident batting frustrated England, who began the day as favorites but ended the second session searching for answers.
England’s Early Dominance Meets Indian Resistance
Archer and Dawson’s Testing Spell
England opened the session with contrasting styles — Jofra Archer’s pace and bounce from one end, and Liam Dawson’s sharp spin from the other. Archer extracted inconsistent bounce from the surface, while Dawson found some turn from the footmarks. Despite the challenges, the Indian batters applied a merit-based approach, defending resolutely and capitalizing on loose deliveries.
England’s Bowling Rotations and Missed Opportunities
The English bowling attack rotated with Brydon Carse and Joe Root replacing Archer and Dawson. The bowling remained probing, frequently beating the outside and inside edge of the bat, and even striking the pads on occasions. But England could not find the breakthrough they were looking for. Half-chances came and went, but the Indian duo remained unflinching.
🏏 Read more about how KL Rahul and Shubman Gill weathered the early storm earlier in the innings in our in-depth analysis.
Stokes Pushes Through Pain But India Counters Strongly
Skipper’s Short-Pitched Plan Backfires
Ben Stokes, who had bowled an extended eight-over spell earlier despite clear signs of discomfort in his right shoulder and hamstring, brought himself back on to force a breakthrough. However, the decision turned out to be counterproductive as Sundar and Jadeja mounted a counterattack.
Washington Sundar raised his half-century in style with a six followed by a four. Just three balls later, Jadeja brought up his own fifty with a firm boundary that also saw India taking the lead for the first time in the match.
India Takes the Lead: Game Set for an Exciting Finish
India’s New Found Upper Hand
From trailing England by over 300 runs after the first innings, India has clawed their way back into the match. At 322/4 in their second innings, the team now leads by 11 runs, with both Sundar (58*) and Jadeja (53*) unbeaten at the crease.
England’s Growing Desperation
England’s frustration was visible. Every tactic — from seam to spin and short-pitched attacks — had failed. The pitch has begun showing wear, but India’s batters appear well-set and tactically equipped to counter it.
Match Summary
England 1st Innings: 669 all out
(Joe Root 150, Ben Stokes 141; Ravindra Jadeja 4-143)
India 1st Innings: 358 all out
India 2nd Innings: 322/4 (Washington Sundar 58, Ravindra Jadeja 53*; Chris Woakes 2-57)*
India lead by: 11 runs
Key Highlights
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100-Run Stand: Washington and Jadeja’s partnership has brought India back into the game.
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Fifty in Style: Both batters brought up their fifties with boundaries, signaling intent.
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England’s Woes: Stokes’s injury concerns and lack of breakthroughs have pushed England to the backfoot.
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Turning Track: The pitch is starting to offer more help to spinners — setting up an intriguing final day.
What looked like a one-sided affair after England’s 669 is now a balanced contest, thanks to India’s resilience. With one full day remaining and the pitch gradually deteriorating, the fifth Test could still produce a dramatic finish.
📊 For complete stats and live match updates, visit the official ESPNcricinfo match page.
