ENG vs IND | Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar headline India’s stunning comeback in Manchester

Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar’s epic 203-run partnership helped India save the fourth Test match against England at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday. Jadeja remained unbeaten on 107 with 13 fours and a six while Sundar reached his maiden international hundred to be at 101 when both teams agreed on the handshake. The duo, along with Shubman Gill, who completed his century earlier in the day, powered India to 425/4, extending the lead to 114 runs when play ended ahead of the scheduled close on day five.

After ending the last day on a high, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill started from scratch with India still needing 137 runs to match England’s first innings score in the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester. The duo started cautiously gathering 14 runs in the first seven overs of day five before Ben Stokes broke the stubborn 188-run third-wicket partnership with Rahul’s wicket. The England skipper caught him plumb in front of the wicket with a delivery that swung in sharply and stayed low. The Indian opener, who hit eight fours, missed a deserving century, getting out for 90 after his 230-ball vigil. Gill, however, looked solid from the other end, pulling Jofra Archer for a beautiful four off his first delivery with the second new ball. He completed a gritty century, his fourth in this series, in the next over, screaming in celebration just as he took off for a quick single. But a momentary lapse of concentration saw him edging a short and wide ball from Archer straight to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith on the stroke of lunch. The Indian skipper’s knock of 103 came in 238 balls and included 12 fours, and his dismissal ended a 104-ball resistance, alongside Washington Sundar. New batter Ravindra Jadeja was fortunate as Joe Root dropped him on the very first ball he faced from Archer. Still, the home side ended on top at lunch with the wickets of both the set batters and the visitors still behind by 88 runs.

India once again started with a flourish as Jadeja smashed Dawson for two fours in the second over. The pair continued to tick the scoring rate as they targeted part-time spinner Joe Root for three boundaries in three overs, stretching the visitors’ lead to 75 runs. Realising that there is only one result heading forward, Stokes immediately went for the handshake with both batters in their 80s and in touching distance of well-deserved centuries. India did not accept it, with an unimpressed Stokes going to his part-timers to continue proceedings. Jadeja reached the three-figure mark in style with a six off Harry Brook while Sundar was cautious to scale his maiden Test century with a single of the same bowler in his next over. Eventually, India agreed to a draw to seize the momentum going into the final Test at The Oval three days later, with the series still alive at 2-1. Uuuuuuffffff!!