The ongoing fifth Test between England and India has been a highly competitive affair so far, with the match tilting in either side’s favour on different occasions. Currently, however, it is England’s game to lose. The home side are sitting comfortably at 259/3 with their most in-form batters Joe Root (76*) and Jonny Bairstow (72*) on the crease. They only have 119 runs to score in order to level the series; something that looks highly likely.
At the start of the day, India were batting with Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant on the crease, but a resurgent English side cleaned up the two batters along with the Indian tail at just 245/10. Coming on to chase a target of 378, the English side got a very good start from their openers with Alex Lees (56) and Zak Crawley (46) making up a 107-run partnership for the first wicket. Three quick wickets of Crawley (107-1), Ollie Pope (107-2) and Lees (109-3) fell in just two runs and it looked like India has a firm hand on the trophy.
Root and Bairstow took the game away from India.
This was when Joe Root and Bairstow walked in and took the game away from the visitors. Both these batters have looked in incredible form for the last month and emulated their best in the second innings. Root with nine boundaries in 112 balls played a knock of 76 runs along with Bairstow who made a similar 72 runs in just 87 balls with eight boundaries and one six to break India’s morale.
Fans and pundits alike were massively impressed by England’s run chase and praised the home side for their incredible batting. Twitter was awash with ex-players and fans lauding Root and Bairstow, and also criticised India’s bowling on the fourth day. Due to their below-par performances, only a miracle can see the visitors win from here. India now need seven wickets and rain to save this match whereas 119 for England looks easy for the home side.
Let’s have a look at some of these tweets on Day Four of the India- England Test match.
England redefining how TEST cricket is played. Attractive and enjoyable . Great to watch . #BazBall
It’s going to be a superb test match between India and England ??
— DK (@DineshKarthik) June 27, 2022
India Vs England Day 5 is a complete SOLD OUT, that too on a weekday.
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 4, 2022
That's five consecutive scores of 50 or more for Jonny Bairstow. Three of the previous four were centuries and the other was 71 not out that helped England beat New Zealand at Headingley #Cricket #ENGvIND
— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) July 4, 2022
Enthralling cricket. honours entirely with England. Excelled with ball and bat.India squandered opportunity to ‘close’ match. Stretching innings by couple of hours would have done it. Now in a precarious position.Have to get 3-4 wickets in first hour tomorrow to win. Tough!
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) July 4, 2022
The best praise I can give this England side is the ‘King’ SKW will be raising a glass upstairs saying ‘that’s the way to play cricket’ ?
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 4, 2022
Never change Virat Kohli?pic.twitter.com/PdJjhDMznX
— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) July 4, 2022
But I doubt India would have chased 378 even with the flattest of conditions like this. 1) India has a disabled batting with lots of passengers in the top 7. Got to give it to England for an extraordinary chase.
— BALAJI (@deep_extracover) July 4, 2022
Jasprit Bumrah now leading Wickettaker in this test series between India vs England. What a bowler he is.
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) July 4, 2022
India won 7 sessions and England only 3 sessions still they are on driving seat at this point in time that's the beauty of test cricket..#unbeleivable @cricketaakash #IndiavsEngland
— SHUBHAM CHORDIA?? (@shubhamchordia3) July 4, 2022
