Ashwin gives India hope, Rohit goes early

India need 381 runs on day 5 to win the first Test against England after Ravichandran Ashwin helped the hosts to end visitors’ second innings on 178 runs here at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Monday.

At stumps on day four, India’s score read 39/1, with Shubman Gill (15*) and Cheteshwar Pujara (12*) on the field. Ashwin picked six wickets, restricting England to a very low total in the second innings and with this, a target of 420 runs was set for the hosts. Apart from Ashwin, Shahbaz Nadeem picked two wickets while Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah scalped one wicket each. India began their second innings brilliantly, with both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill scoring regular boundaries. However, Rohit’s 12-run innings was brought to an end by Jack Leach in the sixth over. Pujara then came out to bat.

Both Gill and Pujara played cautiously and ensured India do not lose more wickets on the day. India will now either have to score 381 runs on day 5 to win the match or bat for the whole day to draw the game.

Earlier, England witnessed a very dismal start to their second innings as Rory Burns was dismissed on the very first ball of the innings. He was caught by Ajinkya Rahane off Ravichandran Ashwin’s delivery. Opener Dom Sibley was then joined by Dan Lawrence on the field.

Sibley and Lawrence added a brief stand of 32-run before Ashwin struck again and dismissed the former in the 11th over. Sibley was caught by Cheteshwar Pujara at leg-slip and departed after scoring 16 runs. Skipper Joe Root joined Lawrence in the middle and stitched a 26-run brief partnership.

Ishant Sharma picked the wicket of Lawrence (18) which was the pacer’s 300th Test wicket. Ishant trapped Lawrence (18) in front of the stumps. The batsman took the review but the third umpire stayed with the on-field umpire’s decision.

With this, Ishant became the third Indian pacer to do so after Kapil Dev and Zaheer Khan. Overall, Ishant is the sixth Indian bowler to take 300 Test wickets. Kapil Dev and Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, and Ravichandran Ashwin are the other five bowlers who have taken 300 wickets in Test cricket.

Ben Stokes came in to bat at number four but in an attempt of adding quick runs to the board, he lost his wicket. Ashwin removed Stokes (7) in the 19th over. Bumrah then got hold of Root, reducing England to 101/5.

Indian bowlers did not let England batsmen settle and took wickets in regular intervals. Ollie Pope (28) was sent back to the pavilion by Nadeem in the 29th over. Jos Buttler was then joined by Dom Bess on the field. Buttler played a knock of 24 runs before Nadeem picked his wicket in the 42nd over. In the next over, Ashwin removed Bess (25), who was given LBW.

Resuming day four from 257/6, India’s Ashwin and Washington Sundar saw off the initial overs with relatable ease and the duo managed to move the scoreboard at a brisk pace. In the meanwhile, Sundar registered his second half-century in Test cricket.

After dismissing India for 337 in the first innings in first session and gaining a 241-run first innings lead, England added to their lead through the day. India, who lost the wicket of Rohit Sharma early, need a further 381 runs while visitors England need nine wickets.

Brief scores: England 578 and 178 (Joe Root 40, Ollie Pope 28, Ashwin 6/61); India 337 and 39/1 (Shubman Gill 15*, Cheteshwar Pujara 12*, Jack Leach 1/21).