Tuesday, December 18, 2012

England grind on towards series win

Updated December 16, 2012 23:43:43

England remain on track for a series win in India after surviving to lead by 165 runs with a day left in the decisive fourth Test in Nagpur.

At stumps on day four, England was 3 for 161, leaving India only an outside chance of forcing a victory to tie the series 2-2.

India had resumed at 8 for 297, still trailing England by 33 runs on first innings.

The locals batted for just over 12 overs on day four to make just 29 runs, before declaring four runs behind England on 9 for 326.

Ravi Ashwin (29) and Ishant Sharma (2) were the not out batsmen, while the only wicket to fall was Pragyan Ojha, who was bowled by Monty Panesar for 3.

For England, fast bowler James Anderson took 4 for 81, while spinner Graeme Swann had 3 for 76.

On a difficult pitch, the tourists then ground their way through the day, with survival clearly the priority over runs.

Alastair Cook and Nick Compton made 48 for the opening wicket, before Cook was controversially given out caught behind off Ashwin in the 30th over, with replays showing that Cook had clearly missed the ball.

Compton and Kevin Pietersen then took the score on to 81 before Compton was given leg before - again replays appeared to show the England opener had got bat on the ball before it hit the pad.

Ravindra Jadeja made the next breakthrough, knocking over Pietersen's off-stump when he shouldered arms to a delivery from the left-armer.

England were then 3 for 94, but Ian Bell (24 not out) and Jonathan Trott (66 not out) took the tourists through to stumps and made a draw the most likely result.

Tags: sport, cricket, india, united-kingdom, england

First posted December 16, 2012 22:58:46


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