India grabbed a handy first-innings lead of 259 and then reduced England to 103-5 to stay on course for a comprehensive victory in the fifth and final test on Saturday.
Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin wrecked England's top order with a three-wicket burst on day three of the contest and the tourists were staring at their fourth defeat in the series. England captain Ben Stokes fell on the stroke of lunch with the tourists still 156 runs behind.
1877 - First Test match took place.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 9, 2024
2024 - Ravi Ashwin becomes the first player to pick a fifer on debut and 100th Test.pic.twitter.com/tY6cbKfels
Joe Root was batting on 34 but England's lower order will have to bat out of their skin to deny India an innings victory at the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.
Ravi Ashwin picked a fifer on debut.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) March 9, 2024
Ravi Ashwin picked a fifer in the 25th Test.
Ravi Ashwin picked a fifer in the 75th Test.
Ravi Ashwin picked a fifer in the 100th Test. pic.twitter.com/9S9FET0PH1
Earlier resuming on 473-8, India could add only four runs before losing their last two wickets. England warhorse James Anderson became the first fast bowler to claim 700 test wickets when he dismissed Kuldeep Yadav (30) caught behind.
The traveling "Barmy Army" fans gave Anderson a standing ovation but their morale sagged soon after England walked out to bat, having conceded a significant first-innings lead of 259.
Chipping away and how! 👏
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 9, 2024
A wicket right at the stroke of lunch for R Ashwin! 🙌
England 5 down.
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/jnMticF6fc #TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/OMDunncfz2
India harnessed Ashwin with Jasprit Bumrah for new ball duties, and the off-spinner bowled Ben Duckett (two) in his first over. The opener had charged so far down the track that he would have been stumped even if he had not bowled.
Ashwin struck again in this third over, dismissing Zak Crawley for a duck. Crawley, England's leading scorer in the series, could only turn the ball to Sarfaraz Khan at backward short leg.
Chipping away and how! 👏
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 9, 2024
A wicket right at the stroke of lunch for R Ashwin! 🙌
England 5 down.
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/jnMticF6fc #TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/OMDunncfz2
Ollie Pope made a breezy 19 before attempting a sweep against Ashwin, and Yashasvi Jaiswal took a running catch to dismiss the England vice captain. Jonny Bairstow smacked Ashwin for three sixes in an enthralling duet between two fierce competitors both playing their 100th test.
Kuldeep Yadav, replacing Ashwin in the attack, ended Bairstow's entertaining knock of 39, trapping him lbw. Ashwin returned to disturb Stokes' stumps with the final delivery before the lunch break.
First Published: Mar 9, 2024 1:08 PM IST
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