Superb India defy England to keep series alive
India pulled off one of the great rearguards to defy England, earn a draw in the fourth Test at Old Trafford and keep the series alive.The tourists batted more than five sessions in their second innings to reach 425-4 when the players shook hands. They had a lead of 113 when the draw was agreed with 10 overs of the match remaining.England put in a mammoth effort on the fifth day, but were ultimately frustrated by India's determination, a pitch that only had sporadic spells of life and a crucial Joe Root drop.As ever, the home side looked to captain Ben Stokes for inspiration. After not bowling on day four, Stokes urged his fragile body through two spells, and had KL Rahul lbw for 90 at the beginning of the day.When Shubman Gill wearily poked at Jofra Archer's spell with the second new ball, the prolific captain was out for 103 and England had an opportunity. India were four wickets down, 89 behind and had in excess of two sessions to bat.But Root put down Ravindra Jadeja from the first ball he faced. England barely got another chance as Jadeja and Washington Sundar each made centuries. Their stand was an unbroken 203.It meant England had to make do with only a second draw in 40 Tests since Stokes became captain in 2022, both on this ground, following the rain-affected stalemate with Australia in 2023. All four of Lancashire's County Championship matches on this ground this year have also been drawn.England still lead 2-1 and somehow both teams must regroup for the final Test at The Oval, beginning on Thursday.Of chief concern among some weary England bodies will be Stokes, who seemed to be feeling shoulder and upper leg problems throughout the day.India will surely be without wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant because of a fractured foot. The tourists also have decision to make on key pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah, who has played the maximum three Tests they stated he would before the series.
Echoes of 2005 sets up live finale
The tense, fluctuating and unpredictable nature of this series has had echoes of the epic 2005 Ashes. How apt that this ground has produced the same result - an unlikely draw – 20 years on.On that occasion, Australia held on nine wickets down on a famous day when thousands of spectators were locked out of Old Trafford.This was not as raucous or dramatic as two decades ago, but India's escape is no less remarkable.Before lunch on Saturday they were 0-2, 311 behind and all but beaten. That they go to The Oval with a chance of squaring the series says so much about their spirit, especially captain Gill, who is having a magnificent summer.Quite what state these teams will be in when they arrive in south London is anyone's guess. Apart from the Stokes worry, England may need to refresh all three of their specialist seamersIndia will bring in Dhruv Jurel for Pant, then have their own decisions on the fast bowlers. In terms of fatigue, the visitors at least have the benefit of being the team that has been batting for most of the past two days, while England have been in the field for 222 more overs more across the series.England were hoping this would the day they would clinch the series and complete the first part of what they hope is a glorious double this year. Instead, they still have work to do. It is fitting this wonderful contest gets a live finale.
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