• England lost the fourth Test by five wickets as India reached their 192-run target
  • Ben Stokes’ side put up a fight, with Shoaib Bashir taking three quick wickets
  • India calmly reached their target and inflicted the first series defeat of Bazball 

England put up a fight today in their search for a second miracle to set up a fairy-tale decider in Dharamshala next week but could not stop India moving slowly but surely to a five-wicket fourth Test victory and inflict the first series defeat of the Bazball era.

When Shoaib Bashir took two wickets in successive balls to reduce India to 120 for five, still 72 away from their target of 192, it really did look as though England would pull off daylight robbery in Ranchi to follow their heist in Hyderabad in the first Test.

But wicketkeeper Druv Jarel, only introduced to this India side for the third Test, came together with Shubman Gill to calmly hit the remaining runs and give their side an unassailable 3-1 lead to preserve their unbeaten series record stretching back to 2012.

For England it was a case of what might have been as they began the third day perfectly placed to go on and level the series but endured a nightmare day that gave India the initiative and the chance to go to this decisive victory.

England have played a lot of good cricket again in what has been another compelling Test series but ultimately it has not been good enough for them to make history by winning here. They will travel to the foothills of the Himalayas next week with only pride to play for.

England lost the fourth Test against India by five wickets as the hosts reached the target of 192

England lost the fourth Test against India by five wickets as the hosts reached the target of 192

Shubman Gill helped India comfortably reach their target with a composed 52 not out

Shubman Gill helped India comfortably reach their target with a composed 52 not out

It looked as though India would romp to victory when they doubled their overnight score of 40 without loss, cruising along at more than five an over.

Ben Stokes was his usual pro-active self in the field and rang the changes in the attack, using four different bowlers in the first six over of the fourth day.

And it was when the England captain turned to Joe Root that England finally had their breakthrough, Yashasvi Jasiwal getting a tick outside edge off Root’s third ball of the day that ballooned to Jimmy Anderson diving forward at short third man.

The departure of their batsman of the series changed everything for India and they went completely into their shells once their captain Rohit Sharma was deceived by Tom Hartley in the flight and brilliantly stumped by Ben Foakes, Stokes celebrating passionately as if England had already won the Test.

When Rajat Patidar, who has struggled since coming into this series for the second Test in place of the injured KL Rahul, turned Bashir round the corner to be well taken by Ollie Pope two wickets had gone in eight balls and England were back in the game.

India put the brakes on, crawling along at fewer than two an over up until lunch, and when Ravindra Jadeja tried to increase it he hit a full toss from Bashir to mid-wicket in the second over after the interval where Jonny Bairstow took another excellent catch.

Excitement really began to grow off the very next ball when Sarfaraz Khan got a thin tickle on Bashir and was caught round the corner – so thin that umpire Kumar Dharmasena did not detect it but technology did and Sarfaraz had to go.

At that point England had taken five wickets for 36 runs in fully 21 overs as India were completely overwhelmed by England’s young spinners and the way they were fully supported by their captain and every fielder.

India’s nerves were settled by Jurel who, in only his second Test, built on his first innings 90 by keeping the scoreboard ticking over and giving Gill perfect support.

Both remained unbeaten even though both Bashir and Hartley bowled with a maturity far beyond their inexperience and were backed up superbly in the field.

Gill showed his class to bring victory with a flourish, hitting Bashir for successive sixes to bring up his half-century and finish unbeaten on 52 to follow his hundred in Rajkot while Jurel ended on 39.

Their stand was enough to break English hearts and give victory to an under-strength India side missing Virat Kohli and KL Rahul and having left out their best bowler in Jasprit Bumrah to rest him for the final Test and the IPL that quickly follows here.

It remains to be seen whether Bumrah now returns for the final Test but Dharamashala is expected to provide far more seam-friendly conditions that the other venues and it could be Bumrah wants to play as India seek to confirm their superiority.

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Post source: Daily mail

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