Overview:
Stokes, who took five wickets in the first innings, didn’t bowl in the second essay due to fitness issue. England were impacted by his absence from the bowling attack.
MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Ben Stokes hit another century. Chris Woakes was in sight of a hat trick before he’d even completed the first over of India’s second innings. Day 4 of the fourth test at Old Trafford on Saturday certainly started with a bang.
So much so that by lunch, and with the visitors 1-2 and 310 runs behind, there seemed the genuine possibility that England could claim a series-clinching victory without the need of going to the final day.
But given the way this thrilling and feisty series has gone, India was never likely to go down without a fight.
The odds are still stacked against the visitors holding out for a draw in Manchester. However, through the stubborn stand of KL Rahul (87 not out) and Shubman Gill (78 not out), they were given hope of salvaging something from the test and the five-match series as a whole, which England leads 2-1.
India ended the day on 174-2 and trailing by 137 after frustrating the hosts, and with some rain forecast for Sunday, England may run out of time to seal a win.
Stokes, who took five wickets in the first innings, didn’t bowl in the second essay due to fitness issue. England were impacted by his absence from the bowling attack.
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