IND vs ENG, 4th Test | Dhruv Jurel Pounds 90 Before Kuldeep, Ashwin Lead Indian Fightback

R Ashwin celebrating the downfall of Ben Duckett on Day 3 [X.com]

Brief Scores: England (1st innings): 353 all out (104.5 overs) [Joe Root: 122* (274), Ollie Robinson: 58 (96); Ravindra Jadeja 4/67 (32.5), Akash Deep 2/78 (18)] & England (2nd innings): 145 all out (53.5 overs) [Zak Crawley: 60 (91), Jonny Bairstow: 30 (42); Ravichandran Ashwin 5/51 (15.5), Kuldeep Yadav 4/22 (15)] lead India (1st innings): 307 all out (103.2 overs) [Dhruv Jurel: 90 (149), Yashasvi Jaiswal: 73 (117); Shoaib Bashir 5/119 (44), Tom Hartley 3/68 (27.2)] & India (2nd innings): 40-0 (8 overs) [Rohit Sharma: 24* (27), Yashasvi Jaiswal: 16* (21)] by 152 runs.

Team India spinners launched a commendable tirade against England on Day 3 of the fourth Test match between the two sides at Ranchi’s JSCA International Stadium Complex.

Dhruv Jurel keeps India’s deficit down to 46

Employing a cautious approach, unbeaten batters Dhruv Jurel and Kuldeep Yadav extended India’s overnight total of 219-7 past the 250-run mark. Kuldeep eventually became India’s first casualty of the day and the eighth overall of the innings after he was knocked over by James Anderson with a handy 28 off 131 balls to his name.

Following Kuldeep’s dismissal, Dhruv unleashed an extraordinary barrage of sizzling boundaries and huge sixes against English spinners to form a 40-run partnership with debutant Akash Deep. 

He ended up pounding 90 runs from 149 balls, with his maiden Test fifty keeping India’s deficit down to 46 runs after they were precariously placed at 177-7 at one stage.

For the visitors, Shoaib Bashir pinned Akash Deep at the crease to seize his first Test five-fer, while Tom Hartley finished with figures of 3-68.

Ashwin and Kuldeep envelop ENG for 145

Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin made an instant impact in the second English innings by accounting for opener Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope in successive deliveries. Jolted early at 19-2, Zak Crawley led England’s recovery through brief partnerships with Joe Root (11) and Jonny Bairstow (30) to take his side past the 100-run mark.

Against the run-of-play, Crawley was bowled over by a ripper from Kuldeep Yadav after listing 60 runs from 91 balls. Kuldeep also sent Ben Stokes, Tom Hartley and Ollie Robinson packing back to the pavilion in a quick four-wicket burst as England slipped from 110-3 to 145 all out.

Ashwin picked up the final two wickets to finish with 5-51 off 15.5 overs. His 35th five-wicket haul, coupled with Kuldeep’s 4-22, ensured Team India would be requiring 192 for a series victory in the decisive innings of the match.

Rohit Sharma and Jaiswal survive till Stumps

Chasing 192 for a series win, Indian openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal wiped 40 runs out of their target in just the remaining eight overs of the day before stumps. Both Sharma (24*) and Jaiswal (16*) will resume the Indian run-chase on Day 4, with their team still requiring another 152 runs for a victory.

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