England vs India, Nottingham Test, Live Cricket Score, Day 4: Vijay, Pujara Half-Centuries Help India Extend Lead to 128
Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara hit half-centuries, before being dismissed in quick succession of each other. India finished Day 4 of the first Test against England at Trent Bridge, with a lead of 128 runs Catch all the highlights here.
India finished Day 4 of the opening Test against England with a lead of 128 runs, thanks to fifties from Vijay and Pujara. Catch all the highlights here. (Scorecard):
23:03 IST: Stumps- India are 167/3, lead by 128 runs. What a day of cricket. Joe Root and James Anderson started aggressively and went on to smash a world record for the highest last-wicket partnership. The stand was broken only after the two had added 198 for the 10th wicket, with England taking a crucial 39-run lead. India came out all guns blazing with Dhawan's 29-ball 29 helping the tourists take the lead quickly. Vijay (52) and Pujara (55) shared a 91-run stand for the second wicket as India pushed the lead beyond 100, but both men were dismissed in quick succession. Moeen Ali was the most successful England bowler, picking up two wickets. The two overnight batsmen, Kohli and Rahane will now look to bat India to safety on the final day.
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22:51 IST: FOUR! Rahane cracks Plunkett to the fence as India go past 150. Kohli, who has faced 12 balls, is still to get off the mark. Rahane hit two more boundaries in the same over as India reached 159/3, lead by 120.
22:47 IST: Kohli and Rahane are under pressure to just play out the few minutes remaining in the day, without allowing England to cause any more damages.
22:31 IST: WICKET! And immediately after, Pujara falls to a lose shot against Plunkett. The pitch or the bowling had nothing to do with the two setbacks for India; two batsmen well set decided to play poor shots with less than half-hour to go for the day's play.
22:29 IST: WICKET! Vijay charges down to Moeen Ali and misses the line; all Prior needed to do was whip the bails off, which he did. Another easy wicket for Moeen, who has claimed his first right-handed victim. India are 140/2 and lead by 101 runs. Kohli walks in to join Pujara in the middle.
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22:24 IST: Pujara slams two boundaries to bring up his fifth half-century in 20 Tests and India reached 137/1, with a lead of 98 at the end of 40 overs.
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22:17 IST: Murali Vijay joined Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virat Kohli as only one of five Indian batsmen to score a hundred in the first innings and a fifty in the second outside the subcontinent since 1996. India are 127/1 and lead by 88 runs.
22:12 IST: Fifty for Murali Vijay, his fifth in 23 Tests after a hundred in the first innings. Another well-played knock by the opener as India continue to build on their lead, which is now 86. India 125/1.
21:57 IST: Anderson's innings and his 198-run stand with Root, was a lethal blow to India. England will also look to Anderson to try and snare a couple of wickets towards the close of the penultimate day.
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21:54 IST: With Vijay and Pujara deciding to drop anchor, the match seems headed for a stalemate. Though, there is a long way to go and anything could happen if England do pick up quick wickets, the absence of any initiative has hurt the fans. Former England skipper Michael Vaughan is not too impressed either.
This game is in desperate need of a Streaker to liven it up.....
- Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 12, 2014
21:34 IST: India's record in third innings in England has been very weak - out of 26 instances, India have been bowled out for less than 250 in 14 innings. This innings seams headed in a different direction now with Vijay and Pujara in sublime form. India are 97/1, leading by 58 runs.
21:04 IST: Vijay and Pujara have so far added 33 for the second wicket as India remained solid after quickly taking the lead over England in the second innings. All three results are still possible, but clearly the tourists are still not in the most comfortable position. A lot depends on how these two bat for the next hour or so. India are 82/1
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20:48 IST: After his first innings hundred, Vijay is looking strong in the second knock too. This has been a strong start by India despite the loss of Dhawan. Giving Vijay company at the crease is Pujara, who has rarely failed in both innings of a Test match in his short career. India are 70/1 with a lead of 31.
20:34 IST: Vijay gets two successive boundaries in the first over after tea as India reach 66/1 off 14 overs in their second innings, with a lead of 27 runs.
20:12 IST: Tea - India are 57/1, lead by 18 runs. India took the lead but also lost Shikhar Dhawan to a poor shot against Moeen Ali. It was an interesting session of play where both sides showed they were eager to push for a result. First, Anderson and Root came out all guns blazing before Kumar picked up Anderson to complete his maiden fifer in Tests. The stage was then set for India, who were batting with a 39-run deficit. However, Dhawan was in an aggressive mood and soon enough, the tourists were in the lead.
20:05 IST: WICKET! Dhawan falls, at the stroke of tea, to Moeen Ali, after smashing a run-a-ball 29. This is a huge blow for India, who were no doubt looking to score quickly and get into a position where they could dictate terms in this match. India are 49/1, lead by 10 runs.
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19:55 IST: FOUR! Vijay hits Broad for a boundary and India are now in the lead. This is a good platform for India to build on; the openers, especially Dhawan, have looked to attack and it looks like India are keen to play for a result.
india should save this game but it is still some while before they can say they have.
- Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 12, 2014
19:40 IST: Dhawan is in an aggressive mood while Vijay is looking scratchy despite his first innings hundred. However, the good news for India is that they are wiping off the deficit pretty quickly. India are 27/0 and trail England by 12 runs.
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19:35 IST: FOUR! Broad gets outside the off-stump and a superb drive by Dhawan as India seek to quickly wipe off the deficit and establish a lead. India are 22/0, trail by 17 runs.
19:26 IST: India's opening stand has been struggling outside India. Since 2011, the openers have not shared a 100-run stand in 33 innings. Will Vijay and Dhawan change the trend today? They will be under pressure to give India a strong start against a charged-up England.
19:23 IST: Prior had dropped Dhoni off Broad in the first innings and the India captain went on to get 82; Vijay already has a hundred in this match. Will he make England pay?
19:21 IST: DROPPED and FOUR! Anderson, bowling his second over, got Vijay to edge his second ball, but Prior missed to latch on it as the ball raced away to the fence. India are 10/0 and now trail by 29 runs.
A dull boring draw or will England take the momentum of Root and Jimmy's batting and force an unlikely win? #EngvInd
- Alec Stewart (@StewieCricket) July 12, 2014
19:09 IST: An incredible fight by Root and Anderson, whose spirited 198-run stand for the 10th wicket has left the first Test wide open. Needless to say, India are on the backfoot despite the fact that they are only trailing by 39. But the tourists were looking at a huge lead once upon a time and to be trailing now, is a huge setback.
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19:02 IST: WICKET! That's the end of the record-shattering last-wicket stand. Kumar picked up his maiden five wicket-haul when he removed Anderson for 81 after he had shared a 198-run stand for the last wicket with Joe Root, who remained unbeaten on 154. England were bowled out for 496 and took a 39-run lead over India.
First Test outside the subcontinent for Bhuvneshwar and his first five-for in Tests...expect him to take 25 more wickets this series!
- Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) July 12, 2014
18:46 IST: England start the second session of the penultimate day in right earnest, with Root bringing up 150. India appealed for a catch behind against Root, which was turned down, leading to an altercation between Ishant and the batsman. And surprise, surprise- Jimmy Anderson plays peacemaker, trying to calm his young batting partner down.
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18:00 IST: Lunch - England 485/9, lead by 28 runs. Sensational session for England. Resuming Day 4 on 352/9, Root and Anderson added 133 this morning en route breaking the world record for the highest partnership for the last wicket. While Root raced away to his fourth Test century, Anderson slammed his maiden half-century. The Indian tactics were questionable, with not even bowler targeting Anderson with short balls; both batsmen were allowed to score freely as the tourists were left to remain frustrated on a flat pitch.
Joe Root plays a shot on Day 4 as Dhoni and Kohli look on.© AP
Can't believe @joeroot05 is denying @jimmy9 the strike when he's clearly the better player!
- Graeme Swann (@Swannyg66) July 12, 2014
17:48 IST: This has been a phenomenal partnership, any partnership that breaks a world record is, but Root's tactics of keeping Anderson away from strike, even against part-timer Murali Vijay has been baffling. Former England off-spinner, and James Anderson's close buddy, Graeme Swann could not help taking a dig.
Next target? 307 highest 10th wicket stand in first-class cricket btw Alan Kippax & Hal Hooker for NSW vs Victoria at MCG Dec 1928 #EngvInd
- Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) July 12, 2014
17:40 IST: Record last-wicket stand! Root and Anderson have broken the highest last-wicket stand recorded by Hughes and Agar against England, also at Trent Bridge in the first Test of the Ashes last year. England are now 464/9, lead by 7 runs.
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17:26 IST: England are now in the lead; who would have thought that was possible after they lost six wickets in a session last afternoon. But with Root and Anderson setting camp at the crease, India have had no answers to break a record partnership.
17:23 IST: FOUR! Anderson smashes Vijay to the fence and England are now 457/9, with the scores level. The partnership is now worth 159 runs.
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17:20 IST: Root and Anderson have now added 152 for the last wicket, the second highest ever at that position. England are 450/9 and trail by 8 runs.
17:14 IST: Root and Anderson now have the third highest last-wicket stand, with 148 between them. The record for the highest stand at that position belongs to Phil Hughes and Ashton Agar for Australia vs England last year. That had also come at Trent Bridge in the first of the Ashes Test in England.
16:58 IST: These are danger signals, clear danger signals. England are now only 17 runs behind India and Root and Anderson are even looking good to take the lead. England are 440/9.
India's Tactics this morning have been quite remarkable... Only 10% of balls bowled to @jimmy9 would have hit the stumps !!!!???
- Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 12, 2014
16:36 IST: One hour up and India have still had no joy with the last English pair, who have added 122 runs; England are 420/9.
16:31 IST: Anderson brings up his maiden fifty in 95 Test matches by carting Shami to the fence; and he is thrilled. England are 415/9 and now have a deficit of only 42 runs.
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16:17 IST: England can do what India can do. Root and Anderson bring up a 100-run stand as the hosts continued to fight. They have now also gone past 400 and are looking good to make a match of it.
16:06 IST: FOUR and FOUR! Root slams Shami for two successive boundaries to bring up his fourth Test hundred. England are reducing the deficit and have the chance to put up a real fight against India, who have dominated the first Test for most parts. England 392/9 and trail India by 70 runs.
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15:56 IST: India are fast losing the advantage against England, with the hosts reducing the deficit below 100. The Root-Anderson stand has demoralised the tourists and could even Cook's bowlers to something dramatic later today.
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15:42 (IST): James Anderson hits another one away for four off Bhuvneshwar Kumar! England 363/9 now, scoring quickly.
15:33 (IST): Bhuvneshwar to Anderson! FOUR! Fine shot by James Anderson! Stays back to a length delivery on off and clips the ball through mid-wicket for a boundary. England 357/9 (106.4 overs). Trail India by just 100 runs now.
15:32 (IST): All ready for play to begin then! Bhuvneshwar to begin proceedings.
Joe Root was England's Man Friday. His unbeaten 78 saved England from embarrassment after the hosts blew a solid second-wicket stand between Gary Ballance (71) and Sam Robson (59), suffered a batting collapse (from 154/3 to 202/7) and then had prayer on their lips. Root featured in two crucial stands with Stuart Broad (47) and an unbroken one with James Anderson (23 batting).
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Many see Root as England's next big all-rounder. The 23-year-old Yorkshireman has taken responsibility and understands the importance to put a price on his wicket. He could be the man to stand between India and victory in this entire series.
With three for 109, Ishant will have his tails up on Saturday morning. Sometimes ambitious as he is, the lanky pacer feels India can bag 20 wickets and score a win. On a dry and slowish track, the Indians are quite at home at Nottingham. English bowlers have been clearly left frustrated by the conditions. But did India misread the wicket by not including specialist off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin?
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Reverse swing is expected to play a big role on Day 4 and 5. India have Mohammed Shami, who loves to exploit the old ball and with Bhuvneshwar Kumar - 4 for 61 - capable of moving the new ball both ways, India have enough firepower to put England under pressure in the fourth innings. But India have to watch out against James Anderson in their second innings.
Quick runs, quick wickets and good decisions by the umpires will be key as Trent Bridge gets ready for an exciting weekend of cricket.