After skipper Gill leads the way with gritty ton following Rahul’s composed 90, Jadeja and Sundar also grind their way to unbeaten centuries as visitors pull off a spectacular draw against England in Manchester to keep series alive
Ravindra Jadeja (centre) and Washington Sundar during their unbeaten 203-run stand; (right) India captain Shubman Gill celebrates his century against England on Sunday. Pics/Getty Images, PTI
Joe Root has numerous reasons to look back at the Old Trafford Test with fondness. He became the second-highest run-maker in the history of the five-day game, he also drew level with Kumar Sangakkara on 38 hundreds, the fourth most in Test history.
However, it’s the one that got away that will rankle the former England captain the most. The hosts had toiled hard to finally get rid of Shubman Gill, India’s wonderful skipper, not long after his fourth hundred of the series on the final day of the fourth Test, Jofra Archer eliciting a loose shot outside off with six minutes to lunch.
That left India in a huge spot of bother at 222-4, still 89 short of avoiding an innings defeat. Archer’s first ball to Ravindra Jadeja was short and climbing, but wide outside the off-stump. Instead of letting it sail by, the left-hander flashed hard and found an outside edge that flew to first slip. Root stretched overhead and grasped the ball, only for it to pop out immediately. Two snatches at rebounds too failed to pay dividends. India had been thrown a lifeline; Jadeja and Washington Sundar, embracing the responsibility thrust on him by his elevation to No. 5, helped India secure a fantastic draw, the duo bringing up respective centuries in the final hour, much to the dismay of a dispirited, toothless England side.
Washington and Jadeja negotiated 333 deliveries as a pair while putting on 203 for the unfinished fifth-wicket stand, India finishing on 425-4 when the teams shook hands to leave England 2-1 ahead but the series alive heading into the final Test at The Oval.
Resuming at 174-2, KL Rahul and Gill began with care, mindful of the Stokes threat, and it was no surprise that he was the one who broke through 30 minutes into the day, trapping Rahul in front with a ball that nipped back and stayed down. Having batted beautifully for his 90, Rahul simply stood no chance, trudging back after a stand of 188 with his captain.
England sought to shake hands at the start of the final hour, but with Sundar on 80 and Jadeja on 89, India were having none of it. Both left-handers deserved their tons for nearly four hours of hard graft.
One
Shubman Gill becomes first player to hit four centuries in his debut Test series as captain
Brief scores
India 358 & 425-4 (R Jadeja 107*, S Gill 103, W Sundar 101*, KL Rahul 90; C Woakes 2-67) drew with England 669
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