England's top order dug their heels deep to finish Day 4 with 87 runs for the loss of two wickets from 59.2 overs. Despite England batsmen playing some patient cricket, chasing 405 runs to win the second Test in Vizag on Sunday, India will be pleased to have dismissed skipper Alastair Cook in the last over of the day.
Cook's wicket will boost India, who need eight wickets to clinch the Test match on Day 5. An interesting final day looms large, which could well turn in India's favour. On a fifth day pitch, which will support the spinners, England will have to show great patience to hold onto a draw. After the dismissal of Cook, the onus will fall on Joe Root to hold the batting unit together.
The England batsmen came to bat after their bowlers did some stupendous job, dismissing the Indian batsmen, who had finished Day 3 on 98 for three wickets. Barring Virat Kohli, none of the batsmen looked comfortable on Day 4 at the batting crease. Kohli top-scored with 81 runs from 109 balls.
Adil Rashid and Stuart Broad were brilliant with the ball, taking four wickets in the match. Broad gave his all to trouble the India batsmen. Broad was happy with his bowling performance on Day 4.
"For me it was a decent time to bowl. The pitch offered me a little bit of bounce and a little bit of reverse. Yeah we have dragged ourselves back into the game. The foot is sore but I have got play a Test, haven't I? As a fast bowler you have got to have niggles. It just makes it worse that it is on the sole, being a fast bowler," Broad said.
After dismissing India for a paltry 204 runs, England openers Cook and Haseeb Hameed were determined not to give their wicket away. The duo were involved in a partnership of 75 runs before R Ashwin finally managed to take the first English wicket. They scored 75 runs in 50.2 overs.
Cook continued to play the patient game, and India bowlers were getting increasingly frustrated, but Jadeja brought smiles in the final over, picking up the skipper 54, which has shifted the balance towards India.
Now, with eight wickets remaining, if India manage to dismiss Joe Root early on Day 5, it will smell victory. The Test match is heading to an interesting finish.
