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Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Harry Brook century before dramatic dismissal takes England in sight of win
Facing a towering target of 374, the Yorkshire pair came together under pressure on 106 for three and produced a staggeringly dominant partnership that carried them to 317 for four at tea. A demoralised India were on the verge of throwing in the towel when Brook swung so hard looking for a third successive boundary off Akash Deep that he sent his bat spiralling in the air as a simple catch looped to mid-off. Akash Deep breaks the partnership at last! What a knock from Harry Brook, 111 from 98 deliveries 👏 — Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 3, 2025 He departed for 111 but Root was looking imperious as he reached the break on 98 not out alongside Jacob Bethell. Another 57 runs will seal a 3-1 home win and ensure the newly-minted Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy heads to Lord's. Mohammed Siraj botched a chance to change the course of the match when Brook skied a catch to fine-leg with just 19 to his name but, although he held the chance, the seamer stepped on the boundary then carried the ball over for six. England fans celebrated deliriously as a stunned Siraj realised what he had done, while Brook never looked back. He completed his 10th Test hundred in just 91 balls, his first in a fourth-innings pursuit, and hit the lion's share in a stand of 195. Should the hosts get over the line it will complete a hat-trick of stunning pursuits against India in the past three years, following their record 378 for three at Edgbaston in 2022 and 373 for five at Headingley in the first match of this series. They would also set a massive new record chase at Surrey's home, smashing the previous best of 263 set in 1902. Siraj had snatched the momentum with the last act on Saturday evening, bowling Zak Crawley with a clinical yorker, India made a promising start by removing Ben Duckett (54) and Ollie Pope (27) in the morning session. Duckett converted his overnight 34 into a fourth half-century of the series but played and missed repeatedly as he struggled against Siraj, finally nicking Prasidh Krishna to second slip. Krishna, gamely filling the considerable boots of the rested Jasprit Bumrah, came desperately close to pinning Root lbw for just three but saw his huge appeal rejected. Ball-tracking showed it was clipping leg stump, but it would not have been enough to overturn the decision. After an hour's play England had scraped together 37 runs, briefly accelerating as Pope hit three fours in an over off Krishna including one classy on-drive. But that was the end of a cameo rather than the start of something more substantial, Siraj charging in and nailing him in front of the stumps. At 106 for three, India had taken control but the arrival of Brook brought a screeching gear shift. He went for all-out aggression, at one stage lashing 27 runs in eight balls. That included a crunch through midwicket and a lavish six over cover off Deep before his near miss at fine-leg, risking his wicket but picking up six more for his efforts. Siraj looked mortified, with the English fans revelling in his anguish. Krishna, meanwhile, had to quietly shelve the celebrations he had already started to perform. The wheels fell off India's wagon in the afternoon, as a combination of defensive fields, passive captaincy and tired bodies left them short of answers. Brook and Root ruthlessly milked the situation, scoring a steady stream of ones and twos and waiting for the chance to hit fours. A ragged full toss from Ravindra Jadeja and a woeful misfield from Deep, who kicked the ball over the ropes after declining to use his hands, suggested the game was up as the required runs dropped to double figures. Brook looked to speed up after reaching a well-deserved hundred, lashing Deep for back-to-back fours before departing as his bat flew out of his hands. Bethell was lucky to escape a caught-and-bowled on one, Deep slipping as he turned, but Root finished the session in full control as he moved within two of his century.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Chris Woakes ‘all in' and will bat with dislocated shoulder if needed
For the fifth Test in a row, the game is going all the way to the final day after a nerve-wracking fourth evening left all results possible. Brilliant centuries from Root (105) and Harry Brook (111) had England cruising towards a remarkable chase, set fair on 301 for three hunting 374, but they lost three late wickets to leave things in the balance. Bad light and rain halted a thrilling conclusion in its tracks, with England needing 35 runs and India seeking four more wickets. One of those belongs to Woakes, who has not featured since badly damaging his left shoulder while fielding on Friday. He was ruled out of the game the next morning but has remained with the team and is willing to bat at number 11 with his arm in a sling if required. 'You probably saw him in his whites in the dressing room. He's all in, like the rest of us,' said Root. 'Clearly, he's in a huge amount of pain. But it means a huge amount to him and it just shows the character and the person that he is, that he's willing to put his body on the line like that for England. Look who's in his whites in the dressing room 👀 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) August 3, 2025 'If it does come to that, hopefully he can get us across the line and win an incredible series.' Root was not surprised to see a dramatic end unfold after almost seven weeks of full-blooded battle but, having done a huge amount of the heavy lifting alongside Brook, still fancies England to triumph. 'It was always going to happen like this wasn't it? Just look at the first four games,' he said. 'It's been amazing to play in and quite fitting that we're going to get that kind of finish. It's been one hell of a series, one hell of a journey, and there's clearly confidence in our dressing room. I'd like to think we've got what we need to get across the line.' Harry Brook, left, and Root made centuries (Ben Whitley/PA) Root had earlier marked his 39th Test hundred, and third this summer, with a touching tribute to the late Graham Thorpe. The former Test batter, who took his own life last year, enjoyed a close relationship with Root during his time as England's assistant coach. When he reached three figures, Root produced one of the Thorpe-inspired white headbands Surrey have been selling to raise funds for the MIND mental health charity and wore it as he looked to the skies. 'That was on behalf of our team. It was just a thank you for everything that he's given the game of cricket, and given English cricket, on and off the field,' he said. 'It's been amazing to recognise everything that he's done as a player, as a coach, as a mentor, as a friend to the dressing room and to the game. Joe Root salutes Graham Thorpe after reaching his century (Ben Whitley/PA) 'It was really great to see the amount of love that there is for him and for his family.' India's quicks had found wonderful rhythm before the weather intervened and would probably have liked to try and finish the job while the mood was with them. A night's break and an extra use of the heavy roller could play into England's hands but a saturated outfield meant the tourists were not complaining about the umpires' decision. 'We can see it's pretty wet out there,' said bowling coach Morne Morkel. 'In a way that's out of our control so all we can focus on is doing a good warm-up in the morning, get the boys ready to get the ball in the right area and create a little bit of excitement again.'
The Independent
2 hours ago
- The Independent
England flanker Marlie Packer avoids ban for World Cup opener after red card
England have been given a boost with Marlie Packer cleared to feature in their Rugby World Cup opener after receiving a one-match ban for a red card. Packer was sent off for a dangerous clearout having been deemed to have targeted the lower leg of a Spanish player during the Red Roses ' 97-7 warm-up win at Welford Road. Her dismissal led to fears that the 35-year-old flanker would be unavailable for the opening game of the upcoming tournament against the United States in Sunderland on Friday 22 August. But Packer has received only a short ban, which will be served for next week's game against France in Mont-de-Marsan, and be eligible for selection come the start of the tournament. Packer was given a two-match ban, with the sanction cut in half after full mitigation was considered. A World Rugby statement said: 'Packer's actions were reckless, and although the initial contact was on the Spanish player's back, the secondary movement resulted in significant body weight being placed on the Spanish player's leg/knee. The committee also noted that the Spanish player avoided injury.' The veteran, a World Cup winner in 2014, skippered the side in Leicester despite losing the full-time captaincy to lock Zoe Aldcroft at the start of the year, and produced an impressive performance before her ruck misdeed. for England boss John Mitchell entering the tournament. The vastly experienced Alex Matthews, breakthrough star Maddie Feaunati, all-action openside Sadia Kabeya and Abi Burton, a former sevens stalwart, are the other specialist back rows in the squad alongside Packer. Captain Aldcroft and fellow lock Morwenna Talling can also feature across the back row.
