Ravichandran Ashwin's 6 wicket haul sets up a blockbuster for Day 5

 

With the scores at 257/6 at the end of Day 3, Indian Batting duo of Washington Sundar and Ravichandran Ashwin walked out in the middle. After 3 days of continuous domination by the visitors,Day 4 was finally the day which went towards India.

Sundar and Ashwin added a much needed partnership of 80 runs before Ashwin departed. This parternship could become really crucial tomorrow if India is pull of another Miracle tomorrow. After the Wicket of Ashwin, Sundar kept on playing from one end but didn't got any form of support from the tail enders as India were then bundled out for 337 in 95.5 overs with Sundar remaining unbeaten at a score of 85.

England didn't not enforce the follow on and decided to bat with a lead of 241 runs. India decided to start of the third inning with spin attack as Ashwin led the lineup. 

And they got the perfect start they could have hoped for. Rory Burns was caught out at slip for a golden duck at the very first ball of the third inning.

Ashwin was well supported by his spin partner Shabaaz Nadeem. Ashwin strucked again to dismiss Dom Sibley before Ishant Sharma got the batter of Dam Lawrence. This was Sharma's 300th test wicket as he became only the third Indian Pacer to achieve this feat after Kapil Dev and Zaheer Khan.

Ashwin then got the better of Ben Stokes and soon England founded themselves strangling at 71/4. Wickets kept on falling at regular intervals as Jasprit Bumrah picked up the all important wicket of Joe Root.

Shabaaz Nadeem picked up the next two wickets as he tricked Ollie Pope and Jos Buttler into his net. Ashwin then picked up the last three to finish off the job and have a great day as he finished with the figures of 6-61 in 17.3 overs.

Due to the lead of 419 now, England who were Bowled out for a mere 178(400 less than their first inning) in 46.3 overs setted a target of 420 runs for India in 103 overs.

India finished the day with losing opener Rohit Sharma quickly again. Shubman Gill is now joined by Cheteshwar Pujara with both at the score of 15 and 12 respectively as India are at 39/1 in 13 overs. They need 381 runs from 90 overs tomorrow with 9 wickets in their hand. It won't be easy for them as we await for a thrilling finale.


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