Ranchi: England recovered from a morning session collapse to post 302 for 7 on day one of the fourth Test against India, with Joe Root scoring an unbeaten century and Ollie Robinson remains not out on 31 here on Friday.
However, then former England skipper Joe Root took the charge in his hand, smashing a gritty century (106 off 226 balls), 31st of his Test career, well supported by wicket-keeper batter Ben Foakes. Root and Ben Foakes (47) added 113 runs for the sixth wicket to get England out of trouble after they were left struggling at 112/5.
Siraj then came back into the attack with the old ball, making it reverse and broke the partnership to raise the hope of making a comeback. He then removed Tom Hartley in his last over of the spell, but then India failed to build pressure on England batters as the runs continued to flow.
Earlier in the day, Debutant pacer Akash Deep bowled an exceptional spell in the morning session, taking three crucial wickets including both the openers Zak Crawley (42) and Ben Duckett (11) and the star of the first Test for the visitors Ollie Pope (0), making it dream debut with figures of 3/70.
Jonny Bairstow also amassed quick 38 off 38 balls with four boundaries and a six before Ravichandran Ashwin trapped him in front of the stumps. Skipper Ben Stokes (3) was unlucky to get caught in front of the wicket by Ravindra Jadeja (1/28) as India dominated the morning session.
India are leading the five-Test series 2-1.
Updates from Day One:
- Over 90 (302/7)
Rohit Sharma gives the ball to part-time spinner Yashasvi Jaiswal to bowl the last over of the day. Six runs came from the over including two fours and as many singles. England finish the opening day on 302/7 with a gritty century from former England skipper Joe Root, his 31st century, and opener Zak Crawley and stumper Ben Foakes' dogged efforts. - Over 89 (296/7)
Just a single came from the second last over of the day. - Over 88 (295/7)
India now looking to bowl barrage of bouncers to batters and hoping that they edge it to the fielder as nothing is working here for India. Root, Robinson brings up fifty partnership between them has started hurting India. However, only two overs are remaining in the day. - Over 86 (282/7)
Akash Deep bowled another good with the old ball, with some signs of swing and concedes a couple of runs. - Over 84 (279/7)
Century number 31 for Joe Root. Former India skipper takes off his helmet and kisses the badge on it in his celebrations. He was under pressure coming into this game because of the low scores and the ways of getting out. But he's put that all behind him and smashed a fabulous knock.
Most Test centuries against India
10 Joe Root (52 innings) *
9 Steven Smith (37 innings)
8 Gary Sobers (30 innings)
8 Viv Richards (41 innings)
8 Ricky Ponting (51 innings)
13th century for Joe Root against India across formats, one behind 14 each by Smith and Ponting. - Over 83 (271/7)
Jadeja bowls six good length balls, one of which stays low and but didn't hit the pad or bat either. Robinson hit one down the ground for a four. Just four runs came from the over. - Over 82 (265/7)
Debutant Akash Deep replaces Siraj in the from the other end. And he straightaway exploit some help from this 81 over old ball. It first slided on the pads but then holds his line and stays on it. Seven runs came from the over. - Over 81 (261/7)
India haven't taken the new ball and continued with Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja concedes only one run including a LBW appeal which should have been come India's way but umpire said not out in an over. - Over 80 (258/7)
Siraj bowls another over putting all of his effort behind the ball, but didn't a get wicket. - Over 79 (257/7)
Jadeja continues to bowl from one end. This is his 25th over now while Kuldeep Yadav has bowled only seven overs and did well conceding only 13 runs including two maidens. Will India take the new ball after this over? or will continues to extract some reverse swing with the old ball? we will get to know in the next over. - Over 78 (256/7)
Root inching closer to his 31st century as he takes England past 250-run mark. Five runs came from the last over including a close run on the last delivery. - Over 76 (246/7)
Edge but didn't carry to slips. Frustration for both, Siraj and India. He bowls a good length delivery and it shapes away from off-stump and catches Hartley's edge but didn't carry to slips as it runs away for a boundary. And on the very next delivery, Siraj gets his man, he knocks Hartley over as he gets his second wicket of the match. Just a single came from the over. - Over 75 (241/6)
First Siraj bowls a maiden and then Ashwin concedes only a single. Only five overs remaining for the new ball to be available. Will India be able to pick a wicket with this old ball? - Over 73 (239/6)
Appeal for LBW and Hartley gone, Ashwin gets his second wicket of the day. England go upstairs and there was a clear edge of the bat, Hartley survives. Umpire Kumar Dharmasena has to change his original call. However, Hartley had hit Ashwin for a six over deep mid-wicket. Seven runs came from the over. - Over 72 (233/6)
Another good over from Siraj and concedes only three runs. - Over 71 (230/6)
Just three runs came from the over. However, Joe Root played a risky reverse sweep but failed to connect it properly and took couple of runs on it. - Over 70 (227/6)
Siraj is getting reverse swing here with 70 over old ball and looking threatening here. It's maiden over from him. - Over 69 (227/5)
Ashwin continues to bowl from other end and concedes only two runs in the over. - Over 68 (225/5)
Mohammed Siraj does the job for India. He removes Foakes for 47, providing a much needed breakthrough for India. Siraj bowls it fuller on the stumps and Foakes plays little early and the ball goes in the air and Jadeja made no mistake. Tom Hartley, who has played three crucial innings so far in the series comes into the middle to bat at number eight. Just a single came from it. - Over 67 (224/5)
Foakes has changed his gears here. He whacked Ashwin for a six and two fours to enter into his 40s, interestingly all three came from sweep shots. If England score near 350, they will dictate the game for sure. He is just three runs away from his half-century. - Over 66 (206/5)
Jadeja bowled his seventh maiden of this innings. - Over 65 (208/5)
Looks like Ashwin has found his line and length. He is bowling closer to the stumps, making batter play every delivery. Just two runs came from the over. - Over 64 (206/5)
Ravindra Jadeja continues to bowl from one end as India desparately looking for a wicket here. They cannot afford to let this partnership to go far away. England also crossed 200-run mark here. - Over 61 (198/5)
Only run from Ashwin's over to end the session. - Over 60 (197/5)
A maiden over from Jadeja and the flow of runs has dwindled from quite a few overs. - Over 59 (197/5)
A brilliant over from Ashwin and Foakes was saved from getting dismissed twice as the ball kept low. A tidy over from the off-spinner. - Over 58 (196/5)
A short delivery from Jadeja on the last ball and it cost him for four runs. The left-arm spinner was visibly frustrated after the boundary and it shows how desperately India needs to break the stand between these two batters. - Over 57 (191/5)
Five runs from the over as Ashwin as Root took advantage of a short delivery from the off-spinner. The duo is well set and taking England to a decent total. - Over 56 (186/5)
Ravindra Jadeja is now varying his length and speeds to get a much needed breakthrough. Bowls a maiden over with tight lines. - Over 55 (186/5)
A couple of runs from the over bowled by R Ashwin as both the batters are now building the innings with caution. - Over 54 (184/5)
A boundary off the over from Root as he drives a ball through the extra cover while facing a full-length delivery from Kuldeep Yadav. - Over 53 (180/5)
One run from the over and both the spinners are now bowling in tight areas to keep the batters quiet. But with the kind of comfort both the batters are now facing, India need to break the partnership as soon as possible. - Over 52 (179/5)
A single run from Kuldeep's over as he has now started bowling in line of stumps. Not allowing the batters to free their arms. - Over 51 (178/5)
The partnership is now more than 50 runs with Joe Root taking the charge. Also, spinners are not getting any aid from the surface so far. - Over 50 (177/5)
A maiden over from Kuldeep Yadav. He is staying on leg stump more and might need to target stumps with his deliveries. Also, Indian spinners are not getting any turn from the surface so far and that has made it a difficult task for them to come up with a breakthrough. - Over 49 (176/5)
Amid all the chatter around Root succumbing to ‘Bazball’ due to his dismissal in the last game while trying a fancy shot like reverse scoop, the batter has shunted down all such possibilities. While the wickets were tumbling from the other end, Root preferred to play his natural game to stabilise the innings. Ian Chappell said he believes Root has a ‘bloody fine record playing normally’, in an interview last week. Joe Root brings up his 61st half-century in 108 balls including just four boundaries. Read More - Over 48 (175/5)
Tough chance but Jurel does get a glove to it, another catch from the wicket-keeper against spin. It was on the fourth stump of the leg side and Root attempts to glance, gets a slight deflection and Jurel fails to grab it. Root has grin on his face looks at the umpire who give has signalled it leg byes. Root now one short of his fifty. - Over 47 (170/5)
Foakes presses front foot forward and drives it through the cover region for a boundary. However, it was plan from the Indian players to bowl four five deliveries on the stumps and then bowl on fifth sixth stump, asking the batter to play false shot. Five runs came from the over including a boundary. - Over 46 (165/5)
Kuldeep gives flight and asks Foakes to go over the top, but the wicket-keeper batter defends it down. Foakes has scored just 18 off 73 balls so far while the most of the runs have came from the Root's bat. - Over 45 (165/5)
Deep comes from the other end and Root welcomes him with a boundary. Joe Root nears his another half-century which is coming in his style of playing instead of going hard against the bowlers. - Over 44 (161/5)
Foakes takes the long stride out, goes near to the ball and finds a boundary right with beautiful straight drive and takes the partnership near 50-run mark. This must be hurting India as they would be eying to restrict them on low score and bat as long as possible considering they will have to bat in the fourth innings on a pitch where the ball is staying low and turning like day four. - Over 43 (157/5)
Just the change of ends for Akash Deep. He is now bowling from the MS Dhoni end. No real chance created in this over. Five runs came from the over including a boundary through the gully region. - Over 42 (152/5)
Just three overs spell for Akash Deep and skipper handed over the ball to China-men Kuldeep Yadav. He straight away finds the turn. Just two runs came from the over. - Over 41 (150/5)
We haven't seen Kuldeep Yadav bowling in this match so far. However, Jadeja bowling maiden and maidens back to back from the other end, keeping it very tight for the Englishmen. - Over 40 (150/5)
England reach to 150-run mark. Akash Deep making the ball reverse but hasn't been able to find the right line and lengths. He is yet to bowl six balls on the same length and line. Three runs came from the over. - Over 39 (147/5)
Now Jadeja finds the spot from where he can get that variable bounce. Two balls stayed low this over, but Root and Foakes managed to tackle it with an ease. Definitely a much better effort from the Englishmens. Just a singles came from the over. - Over 38 (146/5)
Akash Deep looking for reverse swing but sliding onto the Roots pads for the second occasion in this over. He tries to correct the length and bowls it well outside off and Joe Root jumps on it and smacked it between the gap of gully and backward point for a boundary. Nine runs came from the over. - Over 37 (137/5)
The left-arm spinner making it hard for the visitors, bowling stumps to stumps, getting some sharp turn from the pitch as he bowls another maiden. - Over 36 (137/5)
Change in the bowling as debutant Akash Deep comes in to the attack. He is trying to bowl stumps to stumps, in search of some help from the pitch, signs of reverse swing for him. Huge appeal on the last ball, it hit above the knee roll and umpire turned down the appeal. - Over 35 (135/5)
Jadeja bowls another maiden against Root. He is bowling as good as he always bowls. - Over 34 (135/5)
Just a four runs came from Jadeja's over. Not much happening so far in the session, ball is coming nicely on to the bat and they are just putting it into the gaps and taking singles. The partnership is of 23 runs now. - Over 32 (129/5)
Ashwin bowling from the round the wickets, tempting batters to play sweep shot, much like Bairstow's dismissal. However, both the batters are showing full face of the bat and haven't been seen playing sweep shots so far. Just two singles from the over. - Over 31 (129/5)
Wherever the balls gets the slight turn, Jadeja gets more dangerous because of the pace and lines he bowls on. No run conceded. - Over 30 (129/5)
Joe Root playing his natural game, not taking any risks, guiding the ball into the gaps and steers it away for a single. Five runs came from the over. - Over 29 (124/5)
Jadeja bowls six good length deliveries, targeting stumps. Just a single came from the over. - Over 28 (123/5)
Both the batters are playing with the straight bat, giving themselves the best chance to survive. Three singles came from this over as well. - Over 27 (117/5)
Jadeja continues from the other end. England steal three singles from an over. - Over 26 (117/5)
The way this pitch is behaving, it looks like that the match will finish inside three days. It has a variable bounce which is making even harder for a batter to survive on this surface for a long period. Just a single came from the Ashwin's over. - Over 25 (114/5)
Ben Stokes walks back to the pavilion as the ball kept low. Jadeja bowled a good length delivery and Stokes tried to defend it. However, the ball kept low than what he expected and it crashed into his pads. It was plumb and so the umpire quickly raised his finger to adjudge the ruling. Foakes then finds a double and defends all the remaining deliveries of the over. - Over 23 (111/4)
A single run from Jadeja's over as England are trying to stage a recovery. - Over 21.2 (109/4)
Just when Bairstow started looking dangerous Ashwin steps up to get rid of him. The off-spinner bowled a full delivery to which the batter responded with a sweep. However, he missed the shot and the ball crashed into his pads. Umpire called it as not out but India have been brilliant with their reviews today. The DRS showed three reds and the decision was overturned as a result. A key scalp for the hosts. - Over 21 (105/3)
A boundary through deep backward point and he is playing late against Jadeja. The batter played a cut and got four runs for his stroke. - Over 20(100/3)
Bairstow continues to attack and he smacked a six to Ashwin via slog sweep. A huge hit over deep-midwicket and it sails into the stands. - Over 19 (99/3)
Root played a very fine shot against Jadeja to score four runs and the duo have built a 43-run partnership between them. - Over 18 (83/3)
Bairstow is now switching the gears and he punished two full deliveries from Siraj on the last two balls. The England duo will now aim to post a huge total on the scoreboard. - Over 17 (71/3)
A maiden over from Joe Root as English batters have taken a cautious approach. - Over 16 (71/3)
Bairstow played a cheeky shot against Siraj through deep backward point on the first delivery to gather four runs. Both the batters are now showing solid defense. - Over 15 (67/3)
England are now building their innings steadily as Bairstow and Root are showcasing a fine array of strokes building a partnership for the fourth wicket. - Over 14 (64/3)
Four runs from the over as Root and Bairstow are steadying the ship here. - Over 13 (60/3)
Only three runs from the over by both the batters. After early loss of the wickets, they are trying to stage a recovery. - Over 11.5 (57/3)
Aakash Deep is on fire. His deliveries shaping back into the batters are leaving them bamboozle. A good length delivery and Crawley had no answers to it. The ball hit the top of off and its third wicket for hosts. - Over 11 (50/2)
Three runs from Ravindra Jadeja's over and Root will now aim to build his innings. - Over 9.4 (47/2)
This is turning out to be a sensational over from Aakash Deep. Ollie Pope came down the track and the bowler bowled a back off length delivery. It nipped back in and hit onto the pads. Umpire rejected the appeal for LBW but a brilliant review from Rohit Sharma. Three reds in the DRS and second wicket for the Indian quick on his debut. - Over 9.2 (47/1)
Aakash is finally rewarded for the immense discipline he shown so far. He bowled a good length delivery to Duckett on the fourth stump and it shaped away from the left-handed batter. The batter nicked it and it was an easy take for Dhruv Jurel. Debut wicket for Aakash Deep. - Over 9 (46/0)
Ravindra Jadeja into the attack and he created a chance on the fifth deliver. A full delivery which turned after landing onto crack hit pads of the batter. Umpire ruled it to be not out but the Indian team reviewed it. It was a close call as umpire's call saved the batter. - Over 8 (37/0)
Only two runs conceded by Aakash Deep. He is sticking to his line and lengths in the fixture. - Over 7 (37/0)
All the hardwork so far is demolished by Crawley here. Siraj bowled too much down the leg and too full in the over and was punished for it. Three boundaries and a massive six from the over to earn 19 runs off six deliveries. - Over 6 (18/0)
Akash Deep has been impressive so far with the kind of seam movement he has generated so far. He bowled a delivery going away from the batter on the last ball and Crawley tried to play it through cover region. However, an outside flew wide of slip cordon and luck boundary for England. - Over 5 (14/0)
First overpitched delivery from Siraj and Crawley made no mistake in getting four runs off it by smacking it straight past the bowler. - Over 4 (9/0)
A lot of drama in his debut game for Aakash Deep. He bowled some quality deliveries seaming into the batter. One of them shattered the stumps of Zak Crawley and the pacer was jumping in joy for getting his maiden Test wicket. However, his celebrations were cut short as the siren for the no-ball went off. - Over 3 (5/0)
Siraj is keeping his lengths back off good length. He produced a brilliant delivery on the last ball which nipped back into the batter but an inside edge took it towards fine leg. - Over 2 (2/0)
Debutant Aakash Deep bowls his first over in the international cricket and has tried to bowl in the corridor outside off. Both of the batters looked comfortable against him but he produced a beauty on last delivery beating Duckett on his outside edge. Also, the over witnessed Dhruv Jurel's athletic glovework as he caught a wayward delivery from the pacer straying down the leg. - Over 1 (0/0)
A maiden over to start with from Mohammed Siraj. He constantly kept his deliveries outside off and also used short delivery in an effective manner. India will be aiming to get the English wickets as soon as possible.
