SOUTHAMPTON, England, (Reuters) – England need six wickets on the final day to win the third test against India after a superb bowling performance helped them reduce the tourists to 112-4, still 333 runs short of victory, at the end of day four at Southampton yesterday.
India lost Murali Vijay (12) and Cheteshwar Pujara (2) in the space of eight balls in the final session and part-timer Joe Root then claimed the wicket of Shikhar Dhawan (37), which broke a watchful stand of 51 with Virat Kohli.
Spinner Moeen Ali got Kohli (28) to edge a straight one to Jos Buttler before Lord’s centurion Ajinkya Rahane (18 not out) and Rohit Sharma (six not out) battled to the close with India on the brink of defeat.
Earlier in the day England captain Alastair Cook (70 not out) managed successive half-centuries in a test match for the first time since 2011 and he was backed up by Root’s 56 off 41 balls as England declared their second innings at 205-4.
It left India facing what would be a world-record chase of 445 to win the game. But England, trailing 1-0 in the five-match series, are favourites to earn their first victory in 11 outings on the final day today.
“I think as days of cricket go you want to have more like that one,” Root told reporters.
“To get the two wickets in the morning was fantastic and we wanted to have a good session at them tonight.
“We’re in a really good position and if we can get the six wickets tomorrow we’ll be right back in the series. We’re hungry for a win as it has been so long.”
The day finished with a verbal exchange between James Anderson and Rahane at the close of play, with umpire Rod Tucker stepping in.
Anderson, who faces a disciplinary hearing tomorrow following his altercation with Ravindra Jadeja at the first test at Trent Bridge, took the first two wickets of the morning to claim a five-for on his 32nd birthday.
DAUNTING TARGET
He dismissed Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Mohammed Shami in the morning session to bowl India out for 330, but Cook opted not to enforce the follow-on. Having lost Sam Robson (13) and Gary Ballance (38) before lunch and Ian Bell (23) after the interval, Cook and Root went about setting India a daunting target.
The pair attacked India with brutal power, taking the bowlers to all parts of the ground with a range of aggressive strokes, before Root was bowled by Ravindra Jadeja, prompting Cook into a declaration.
A resurgent England came at India with venom after tea, and they found a breakthrough when Broad ran Murali Vijay out with a superb diving direct hit.
