Overview:
England leads the series 2-1 ahead of the fifth test starting Thursday at The Oval.
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — A roller-coaster of a test cricket series between England and India is, fittingly, going down to the wire.
India salvaged an against-the-odds draw in the fourth test with a show of grit and sheer defiance at Old Trafford on Sunday, and kept alive its chances of tying the five-match series.
England leads the series 2-1 ahead of the fifth test starting Thursday at The Oval.
India was 425-4 in its second innings — including centuries to Ravindra Jadeja (107 not out), Washington Sundar (101 not out), and skipper Shubman Gill (103) — and 114 runs ahead when an early stumps was called.
“This is no less than a win for us,” Gill told the BBC. “Our batsmen put on a great display.”
The fourth test may not have matched the drama at Lord’s, where England won by 22 runs, but it was engrossing throughout five days in Manchester. India swung momentum after being at risk of being swept away.
By Sunday evening, India’s collapse in the opening over of its second innings seemed an age away. Two wickets down without a run on the board at that point and 311 runs behind England’s imposing first-innings of 669, the series seemed lost for India.
Not on Gill’s watch. Not with a batting order of such quality that it has the top four scorers in the series.
Top of the lot is Gill, who hit his fourth century in as many matches to provide the platform for the recovery. He was supported by KL Rahul (90) and all-rounders Jadeja and Sundar. Combined, they frustrated an England attack that simply ran out of ideas.
“This is the foundation of this team. These are characters who are sitting in this dressing room and wanting to fight for the country,” India coach Gautam Gambhir said.