Ranchi: India bounced back strongly on Day 3 to move into a winning position in the fourth Test against England here.
After young Dhruv Jurel (90) led a heroic rearguard action with lower-order batters to restrict England’s lead to 46 runs, Ravichandran Ashwin (5/51) and Kuldeep Yadav (4/22) then bowled out England for a paltry 145 in the second innings.
Needing 192 for a series-sealing victory, openers Rohit Sharma (unbeaten 24) and Yashasvi Jaiswal (unbeaten 16) rattled off 40 in 8 overs by close of play.
The day started on an encouraging note for the home team with Jurel and Kuldeep extending their fighting eighth-wicket partnership to 76 runs. Kuldeep showed exemplary dedication and discipline to make 28 off 131 balls after joining Jurel on Day 2 with India on a precarious 177/7.
Debutant pacer Akash Deep also lent support to Jurel, as the ninth-wicket pair put on 40 precious runs.
Wicketkeeper-batter Jurel, playing only his second Test, was the last man to be dismissed – castled by a beauty from Tom Hartley – but not before showing that he belonged to this level with a knock of the highest quality. He missed out a maiden Test 100 by 10 runs, but he will get his chances to make amends.
England, who at one point looked good to earn a first-innings lead of 150 or more, were clearly deflated by the Jurel-led resistance.
Facing double-spin attack from the start of their second innings, England were rocked by a double strike by Ashwin in the fifth over.
Zak Crawley and Joe Root tried to steady the ship before Ashwin sent back the latter and first-innings centurion to end a 46-run stand.
Crawley (60 off 91 balls) and Jonny Bairstow (30 off 42) played positively, adding 45 runs for the fourth wicket.
But once Kuldeep pegged back Crawley’s middle stump, the wheels came off England’s innings. From a promising 110/3, England imploded to be skittled out for 145 in 53.5 overs.
Ashwin took his 35th five-wicket haul in Tests, equalling Anil Kumble’s record.
As many as six batters were dismissed for single-digit scores, including three without opening their account.
Brief Scores
England 353 & 145 (Zak Crawley 60; Ravichandran Ashwin 5/51, Kuldeep Yadav 4/22).
India 307 (Dhruv Jurel 90; Kuldeep Yadav 28; Shoaib Bashir 5/199, Tom Hartley 3/68) & 40/0 (Rohit Sharma 24*, Yashasvi Jaiswal 16*).
Match to continue on Day 4, India need 152 runs for victory.
