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Sun, 02 September 2018
4th Test: England outclass India to seal series 3-1

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21:54   4th Test: England outclass India to seal series 3-1


India 184-all out (69.4 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

England beat India by 60 runs in the fourth Test to seal the five-match series 3-1 with one match still come, in Southampton, on Sunday.

Chasing 245 for victory, India were bowled out for 184 in their second innings.

Captain Virat Kohli top scored with 58, putting on 101 runs for the fourth wicket with his deputy Ajinkya Rahane, who made 51, to rally the visitors after they were reduced to 22 for three.

But Kohli's dismissal at the stroke of tea saw India lose their way as wickets kept falling regularly in the post tea-session.

Off-spinner Moeen picked up four for 71 to finish with nine wickets in the match.
Earlier, India wrapped up England's second innings for the addition of only 11 runs to bowl them out for 271.
21:52   4th Test: England outclass India to seal series


India 184-all out (69.4 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

Ashwin shows his capability with the bat as he steers a wide delivery from Stokes square on the off-side for a four, placing it perfectly in the gap between the two fielders in the deep.

He tries a bouncer as Ashwin goes for the pull but is beaten before he takes one to thirdman for a single, leaving lastman Jasprit Bumrah with just two deliveries to face, who does well to play it out.

The final drinks break of the match as India have a lot of ponder about.

Moeen continues after the drinks break as he continues to give it flight and pitch it in the rough outside the off-stump.

Ashwin keeps out the first four balls before he shuffles across and sweeps Moeen over square leg for a four. He tries to sweep the last ball fine but gets it off the cue end as it loops on the leg side but the short midwicket fielder is unable to get to it despite the dive forward.

Sam Curran comes into the attack and he is bowling from round the wicket. He starts with a wide delivery which Bumrah is happy to let go.

Curran looking to bowl it close to the stumps and move it away but so far he struggles to get it right as Bumrah is able to see off the over without any problems.

Out comes the reverse sweep from Ashwin as Moeen bowls it quite slow and he somehow manages to steer it past point for a couple. Ashwin then comes the track to the fifth ball and lofts it straight down the ground for a six before keeping strike with a risky single from the last ball.

Curran finishes off the match as he traps Ashwin leg before wicket with a full delivery as the right-hander plays all over it but is hit right in front of the stumps.
21:27   India 9 down; England set for series win


India 166-9 (65 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

Shami not holding back as he swings Moeen over the leg side as it falls short of deep midwicket to fetch him a single.

In the next over, he gives Stokes the charge and has another wild swing but fails to make connection before he takes a single off the fifth ball.

Shami keeps trying as he lofts Moeen straight down the ground but fails to make proper connection for two runs to long-on. He has another big swing and this time he holes out to Anderson at long-on to be dismissed for eight.

England just one wicket away from victory!

Ashwin decides to take matters into his own hands. He gives Moeen the charge and chips him over midwicket for a couple as Bairstow does well with the sliding stop close to the boundary.

He steers the last ball past Stokes at slip and only takes a single to retain strike as Stokes casually runs behind it.
21:16   India 8 down; England close in on win


India 158-8 (62 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

The wickets are falling at quite regularly now. This time Stokes traps Ishant Sharma leg before wicket for a duck.

That nipped in a long way as Ishant was struck right in front of the stumps. India have no reviews left which means he will have to make his way back.

England two wickets away from sealing the Test series.

Mohammed Shami comes out attacking as he slashes the first ball he faces through point for a four to get off the mark.
21:09   Rahane out for 51; India in trouble


India 153-7 (61 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

The field is spread a bit for Rahane, who clips Stokes to deep square for one and Ashwin steers the next ball through thirdman for a single to get off the mark.

Moeen gets one to turn sharply as Rahane is hit on the pads on the backfoot, trying to turn it on the leg side.

Dharamsena gives it out leg before wicket before Rahane decides to take the DRS. The impact is is line and the ball is going on to hit the stumps as Rahane walks back after scoring 51.

India in big trouble at the moment as they are reduced to 153 for seven, needing another 92 runs for victory with just three wickets in hand.
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21:01   Pant falls for 18; India 6 down


India 150-6 (59 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

Stokes getting the reverse going as a watchful Rahane defends solidly to keep out the over from the pace bowler.

Pant ready to take a few risks. He gives Moeen the charge and hit a flat shot back over the bowler's head for a four, to race to 18 from 10 balls.

Pant chances his arm once again but time he holes out to the fielder at sweeper cover. A brief cameo from Pant who decided that attacking Moeen was the best way to go about things, but England had plans in place and executed it perfectly with a fielder perfectly placed deep.

Ravichandran Ashwin is hit on the pads as he comes forward to defend but the impact is outside the line. He fell to a reverse sweep in the first innings and invited some criticism and he will hope to make up for that blunder.
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20:53   Rahane hits fifty to keep India in the hunt


India 146-5 (57 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

India's hopes rest largely on vice-captain Rahane, who has looked quite solid so far. He turns an incoming delivery from Stokes through square leg for a couple.

In the next over, Pant attempts to sweep Moeen from outside the off-stump but fails to make connection. England appeal for leg before wicket but the impact is well outside the off-stump.

Pant takes a single through the covers before Rahane turns the fifth ball to deep square leg for one to bring up his fifty from 147 balls.

Pant turns the last ball through midwicket for a couple of runs to bring the target under the 100-run mark.
20:45   Pandya out for a duck; India 5 down


India 140-5 (55 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

Ben Stokes strikes in the first over after the tea break as Hardik Pandya is caught at second slip for a duck.

Root hung on to a good low catch as Stokes got one to bounce extra and move away to take the edge and get the session started in the right note for the hosts.

Rishabh Pant avoids the pair as he flicks the last ball of the over through midwicket for a four.

Moeen Ali from the other end. The first ball turns big as Rahane looks to defend off the front foot but is beaten and hits on the pads. He then takes a single off the third ball before Pant shows his intent by coming down the track and lofting the spinner back over his head for a six followed by two singles to get nine from the over.
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20:16   Kohli out for 58; India 126-4 at tea


India 126-4 (53 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

Moeen Ali struck with the big wicket of captain Virat Kohli just before the tea break to reduce India to 126 for four at the end of the post-lunch session on Day 4.

Kohli made 58 before he was caught at short leg after putting on 101 runs for the fourth wicket with Ajinkya Rahane, who was unbeaten on 44 at the tea interval.

Kohli and Rahane got India's innings back on track after three early wickets in the morning which saw the visitors slip to 22 for three.

Broad struck in the third over of the innings when he bowled KL Rahul with one that stayed low.

Anderson then sent Cheteshwar Pujara, whose century helped India post a small first-innings lead, back to the pavilion after rapping him on the back thigh with an inswinger.

Opener Shikhar Dhawan struck three boundaries but never looked comfortable against England's high-calibre seamers and he fell for 17 in Anderson's next over, thick-edging to Ben Stokes at gully after being squared up by a beauty.

Moeen Ali did not have to wait long to get his hands on the ball and he thought he had captured the key wicket of Kohli in his third over when he struck him on the knee roll but umpire Kumar Dharmasena said not out.

England reviewed and looked confident but Kohli was saved by a possible inside edge, although it looked inconclusive.

Earlier, India wrapped up England's second innings for the addition of only 11 runs to leave an absorbing Test balanced on a knife edge.

Broad fell on the first ball of the day, tickling behind off Mohammed Shami who had also taken a wicket with the last ball of the previous day's play.

Curran was run out trying to pinch a second run off a leg bye.
20:13   Kohli out for 58; India 126-4 at tea


India 126-4 (53 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

A charged up England out in the middle as Stokes bowls a short ball to Rahane, who ducks under it.

The India vice-captain will have to guide the tailenders and keep building partnerships and take the team closer to the target.

Hardik Pandya comes in at No. 6 ahead of Rishabh Pant and he is beaten twice in a row by two superb deliveries from Stokes, as he gets the ball to move away to go past the edge twice in a row.

Moeen to bowl the final over of the session and England will be hoping for another wicket before they break for tea.

A watchful Rahane turns the fourth ball on the leg side and Rahane defends the last two balls to end the over and the session.
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20:04   Kohli out for 58; India 4 down


India 123-4 (51 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

Kohli hits one straight to Cook at short leg but he fails to hold on to as it came right off the face of the bat.

But Moeen strikes off the very next delivery as Kohli comes forward to defend but it goes off the pads to short leg and England appeal for catch at short leg.

The umpire rules it out but Kohli decides to review but UltraEdge confirms the inside edge as India lose a big wicket.

This could be a massive moment in the match as well as the series as Kohli walks back for a well made 58. He put India's innings back on track as he put on 101 runs for the fourth wicket with Rahane, to rally the Indians, who were struggling on 22 for three at one stage.
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20:01   Kohli hits half-century to boost India


India 122-3 (50 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

Moeen gets the ball to jump off length from the rough as Rahane manages to keep it down as he turns it on the leg side.

This is desperate time for England as they need a breakthrough to check India's progress.

Ben Stokes comes back into the attack but he doesn't seem to be bowling at full steam at the moment.

Kohli is not taking any chances as he watchfully plays out a maiden over from the medium pacer.

Both Rahane and Kohli are willing to work hard for their runs, not trying anything fancy at the moment, showing good commitment to the cause.

Rahane flicks Moeen on the leg side for one before Kohli clips the last ball through midwicket for a couple.

Kohli gets inside the line and glances a short ball from Stokes fine on the leg side for a four to raise the 100-run stand for the fourth wicket. That also brings up 4000 runs for Kohli as the Test captain, the first Indian to achieve the feat.

India have completed half the task as they reach 122 for three in 50 overs, needing another 123 runs for victory.

Kohli is looking in complete control on 58, while Rahane is providing good support on 41.
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19:45   Kohli hits half-century to boost India


India 112-3 (46 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

England will rue having wasted their reviews so early in their innings. Anderson gets the ball to reverse and jag in sharply as Rahane goes for the flick but misses and hit on the pads but the LBW appeal is turned down.

But the decision would not have stood anyways as the ball was coming in sharply and might have missed the leg stump as per the ball tracker.

England trying to work up Kohli as Broad sends in a throw from mid-on in his direction and the India captain is not at all impressed.

Four men inside the circle but Kohli is still able to tap the last ball into the covers and run across for one.

Moeen comes back and immediately gets one to kick off length as Kohli is hit on the gloves but it falls safely on the leg side.

A single to Kohli in the covers off the third ball before Rahane goes back and defends a sharp turning delivery.

In the next over, Anderson gets some extra bounce as Kohli is beaten outside the off-stump before the India captain clips the fifth ball through square leg to bring up his fifty, from 114 balls.
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19:33   Kohli, Rahane take India past 100


India 104-3 (43 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

Rashid looking to bowl a lot of googlies and top spinners, trying to exploit the rough but he has been much easier to deal with than Moeen. He bowls a tidy over to Kohli, denying him a run in the over.

Rahane taps Anderson on the off-side for a single before the pacer beats Kohli with one that moves away late. Kohli then taps it on the off-side and sets off for a quick run and Rahane clips the last ball to square leg for another run.

Rahane tries the googly as Rahane turns it through the vacant fine leg region for three runs to take India past the 100-run mark, in the 43rd over.

A couple of singles before a huge appeal for leg before is turned down against Kohli, who came a long way forward but was beaten by the googly and umpire Dharamsena turns it down before the India skipper takes one off the last ball.
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19:23   Kohli, Rahane rally India


India 95-3 (40 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

Rahane sensibly taps Moeen on the off-side for a single and Kohli turns the next on the leg side for another run.

Rashid trying a bit too much, bowling quite a few varieties as he ends up dragging one down but Kohli can only pull it to deep midwicket for two runs.

Five runs from Rashid's fourth over, who is proving to be much easier to deal with than Moeen.

Moeen gets one to turn sharply but Kohli is able to rock back and flick it to fine leg region for three runs.

Rashid is taken off after four overs in his first spell when he failed to make an impact as he makes way for Anderson.

Kohli drives the second ball through the off-side for a single and Rahane steers the fourth ball to the vacant thirdman region for a couple and then takes one.

Change of ends for Rashid as he takes over from Moeen, who bowled a tight spell of 13 overs for 25 runs.

Rahane clips the third ball to fine leg for one before Kohli hits the next ball straight back for three.

The last ball is short as Rahane pulls it behind square leg for another single to get five runs from the over.

Anderson gets the ball to nip away slightly as Rahane is beaten outside the off-stump before he takes a single on the leg side.

Kohli steers Anderson to thirdman region and comes across for two runs as Bairstow sends in a quick throw from the deep but the India captain has made it home and the TV umpire confirms it.

Another single to Kohli as India reach 95 for three in 40 overs, needing another 150 runs for victory.

Kohli is looking solid on 41, while Rahane has made 31 with the duo putting on 73 runs for the fourth wicket so far.
18:57   Kohli, Rahane steady India


India 72-3 (34 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

Rahane tries to sweep Moeen from outside the off-stump and misses but survives the leg before shout. After a couple of deliveries, Moeen switches to round the wicket to bring the LBW into play against the right-hander and then goes back over for the last ball.

Spin from both ends as leg-spinner Adil Rashid comes into the attack, in place of Broad. He starts with a few outside the off-stump as Kohli deals with it easily. Rashid then comes closer as Kohli is beaten by the googly as he tries to flick and LBW appeal is rightly turned down.

Moeen sticking to a good line outside the off-stump as Rahane steers the second ball past the slip fielder for a couple of runs. The last ball is slightly short as Rahane again runs it past the slip fielder for a single.

Rashid again bowls on the stumps as Rahane turns it on the leg side for one. He then drops one halfway down the pitch as Kohli rocks back and pulls it through midwicket for a four.

Moeen has kept one end tight, conceding just 20 runs from his 11 overs, and England will need Rashid to bowl a few tight overs and build up some pressure.

India are 72 for three in 34 overs, needing another 173 runs for victory.
18:40   Kohli, Rahane steady India


India 64-3 (28 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

Broad gets one to jag in sharply as Rahane defends with the bat close to his pad. England appeal for a catch off the inside edge but the umpire is unmoved and they decide against the review.

He gets a boundary off the last ball as Broad slips the last ball down the leg side.

Kohli is beaten by Moeen as he gets a full delivery to turn big but umpire Dharamasena turns down the leg before appeal. England take the DRS but the impact is outside the line of off-stump as the hosts end up losing their second and final review.

Moeen drops slightly short as Kohli turns behind square for a couple and then takes a single on the off-side.

The pitch has eased out slightly and batting is much easier than it was with the new ball earlier on.

Broad pitches one right up as Kohli drills it through the covers for three runs before Rahane blocks the last two balls.

Kohli drives Moeen against the spin through the covers for one before Rahane inside edges the last ball as he comes forward to defend but it evades the fielder at short leg.

Kohli plays a nice drive through the covers off Broad but is unable to find the gap as he plays out a maiden over.
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18:21   Kohli, Rahane take India past 50


India 53-3 (23 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

Off-spinner Moeen Ali to kick off proceedings after the lunch interval. He starts with three dot balls to Ajinkya Rahane before he takes a single off the fourth ball and Virat Kohli defends the last two deliveries.

Stuart Broad into the attack from the other end. Rahane very solid with his defence as he looks to get his eye in before he steers the fifth ball for a single past gully and Kohli steals a quick single to mid-off from the last ball.

In the next over, Moeen bowls an overpitched delivery which also drifts wide for a four behind point to bring up India's 50, in the 23rd over.

India are 53 for three in 23 overs, needing another 192 runs for victory, with both Kohli and Rahane on 15.

That boundary also took Kohli past the 500-run mark for the series, with one Test still to come.
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17:35   England on top; India 46-3 at lunch on Day 4


India 46-3 (20 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

Pacers James Anderson and Stuart Broad struck early to put England on top after India were set 245 for victory on Day 4 of the fourth Test.

Virat Kohli survived a close shout for LBW before he made it to lunch on 10, while his deputy Ajinkya Rahane was unbeaten on 13. They need another 199 runs for victory, to level the series at 2-2.

India's run chase got off to a horror start when KL Rahul was bowled for a duck by Broad with one that kept low.

Cheteshwar Pujara was trapped leg before wicket by Anderson, who then got Shikhar Dhawan caught in the gully for 17.

Earlier, England were bowled out for 271 in their second innings with Mohammed Shami dismissing Stuart Broad for a duck before Sam Curran was run out for 46.
17:32   England on top; India 46-3 at lunch on Day 4


India 46-3 (20 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

Moeen overpitches as Kohli drives it through the covers for one before Rahane comes forward but is hit on the pads by one that turns to fetch him a leg bye on the leg side.

Kohli well forward to block Moeen, who is keeping it simple and just trying to bowl on a good line and length outside the off-stump.

In the next over, Rahane clips Stokes through square leg for three runs before Kohli takes one.

Rahane picks up another single before Kohli glances a short ball off his hips fine on the leg side for a couple.

Moeen has a huge appeal for leg before turned down against Kohli, who is hit on the pads trying to flick it across the line.

The umpire turns down the appeal before England take the review but there is an inside edge which comes to rescue of the Indian captain and he is ruled not out.

Infact, Kohli (9) looks to have got away with one this time around. The bat looks to have hit the pad and not the ball but third umpire Joel Wilson suggests it is an inside edge to give India a big reprieve.

Kohli picks a quiet single off the fifth ball as four runs come from the over.

Left-arm pacer Sam Curran comes into the attack. A watchful Kohli plays out a maiden over not wanting to take any risks with lunch around the corner.

In the next over, Rahane pulls Moeen fine on the leg side for a couple and then takes one.

Curran, from round the wicket, strikes with the wicket of Rahane, who is given out leg before wicket for 12.

The umpire has ruled it out instantly and Rahane decides to review after talking to his captain Kohli.

A good call from Rahane to take the DRS as the impact was outside the line of off-stump and India survive another close call.
17:06   India in trouble after early wickets


India 29-3 (14 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

A single to Rahane on the off-side before Kohli drives a full delivery from Broad through the covers for one to get off the mark.

Anderson attacking the stumps, looking to make Kohli play as much as possible as the India captain blocks out a testing over from the pacer.

In the next over, Rahane steers Broad to thirdman for a single before Kohli picks another run on the leg side.

Rahane looking to keep the scoreboard ticking as he picks another quick single and Kohli also takes one to get four runs from the over.

A break for Anderson after a superb first spell of two for 15 in six overs as England introduce spin early in the form of Moeen Ali, who claimed five wickets in the first innings.

He immediately looks to target the rough patches outside the off-stump to Kohli, who defends watchfully. Kohli does well to get outside the line of the off-stump as Moeen pegs him on the pads but the leg before appeal is turned down.

A good start for Moeen as he begins with a maiden over to Kohli.

Double change for England as Ben Stokes comes in from the other end. He starts with one that bounces extra and Rahane does well to defend it on the off-side.

The next ball again rises sharply as Stokes generates some extra bounce and Rahane this time again blocks it on the leg side.

Stokes pitches one up as Rahane goes for the defensive push but is beaten outside the off-stump.
17:06   India in trouble after early wickets


India 29-3 (14 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

A single to Rahane on the off-side before Kohli drives a full delivery from Broad through the covers for one to get off the mark.

Anderson attacking the stumps, looking to make Kohli play as much as possible as the India captain blocks out a testing over from the pacer.

In the next over, Rahane steers Broad to thirdman for a single before Kohli picks another run on the leg side.

Rahane looking to keep the scoreboard ticking as he picks another quick single and Kohli also takes one to get four runs from the over.

A break for Anderson after a superb first spell of two for 15 in six overs as England introduce spin early in the form of Moeen Ali, who claimed five wickets in the first innings.

He immediately looks to target the rough patches outside the off-stump to Kohli, who defends watchfully. Kohli does well to get outside the line of the off-stump as Moeen pegs him on the pads but the leg before appeal is turned down.

A good start for Moeen as he begins with a maiden over to Kohli.

Double change for England as Ben Stokes comes in from the other end. He starts with one that bounces extra and Rahane does well to defend it on the off-side.

The next ball again rises sharply as Stokes generates some extra bounce and Rahane this time again blocks it on the leg side.

Stokes pitches one up as Rahane goes for the defensive push but is beaten outside the off-stump.
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16:46   Dhawan falls for 17; India continue to slip


India 23-3 (9 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

England nearly strike again as Dhawan is beaten by the outswinger from Broad as he pokes away from his body. There is a slight noise as the slip cordon is interested but nothing from the bowler.

Dhawan getting the runs as he clips Anderson through midwicket for his third four.

But Anderson gets revenge two balls later with the wicket of Dhawan, who is caught by Stokes for 17. He chased a wide delivery only to get an edge and Stokes took a good diving catch diving to his left.

India in trouble on 22 for three, as Kohli is joined by his deputy Rahane out in the middle with the duo facing an uphill task.
16:34   Pujara and Rahul perish; India in trouble


India 17-2 (7 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

Pujara picks a single off the first ball before Anderson raps Dhawan on the pads with the incoming delivery. This is a huge shout from the England team but the umpire is not interested.

Captain Root has a huge chat with the bowler Anderson, who seems unsure and they decide against the review. Anyways, even if they had taken it, they wouldn't have lost the review as the ball was clipping the leg stump and it would have stayed with umpire's call.

Dhawan steers the fifth ball to thirdman for a single and Pujara picks another run off the last ball.

Pujara nearly chases a wide delivery from Broad which moves away before he withdraws with bat at the last minute. The last ball is on the pads as Pujara clips it square on the leg side for two runs.

Anderson moving the ball both ways which forces Dhawan to poke at a wide away going delivery, as it beats the bat. He steers a full wide delivery past the slips for three runs as the fielder does well to stop the ball just inside the ropes.

The last ball comes in sharply as Pujara is given out leg before wicket, who decides to review after consulting his partner Dhawan.

The ball nipped to beat the defensive stroke from Pujara, but the impact is a bit high. But the ball is clipping the top of the stumps which means it stays with the umpire's call and Pujara has to walk back for five.

The only positive for India is that they don't lose their review but they have lost one of the batting mainstays in Pujara.

India in trouble on 17 for two with the onus again on captain Kohli to play a match-winning knock.
16:18   Rahul falls for a duck; India lose early wicket


India 9-1 (4 ovs); Target to win: 245 | Scorecard

The action resumes as James Anderson comes in to bowl to Shikhar Dhawan. He offers no shot to the first ball and does the same to the next but this time the ball comes in and hits him on the pads. The impact is high and the umpire is not interested and England also decide against the DRS.

The next four deliveries are well wide as Dhawan is easily able to watch go through without offering a shot.

Stuart Broad to bowl the second over. The first ball comes in as KL Rahul defends before the next goes away to beat the right-hander.

Broad then again gets the ball to move away a great deal as Rahul pokes and is beaten yet again.

A good mix from Broad as the gets the next ball to come in and Rahul defends it on the off-side. A second maiden over in a row from England.

Dhawan gets India off the mark in streaky fashion. He gets a thick outside edge off the third ball which goes past the slips for a four.

Anderson then gets one to jag in sharply but it is doing a bit too much and saves Dhawan from the LBW appeal.

Broad makes the breakthrough in his second over. The first ball comes in but stays very low as Rahul is beaten all ends up to be bowled for a duck.

The uneven bounce is going to be a big factor in India's run chase and the rest of the batsmen will be a worried lot seeing the Rahul dismissal. There is nothing much you can do when you get such a delivery!

Cheteshwar Pujara gets a thick edge for a single to get off the mark.

Broad bowls a half-volley on the stumps as Dhawan clips it through square leg for a four.
15:57   England 271 all out; India need 245 for victory


England 271-all out (95 ovs) & 246 vs India 273 | Scorecard

India finished off the England second innings quickly, taking just 20 minutes to claim the remaining two wickets.

Shami gave India the perfect start with the wicket of Broad off the first ball of the day.

Curran looked solid as he stroked a brisk 46 before he was run out going for a difficult second run.

England are bowled out for 271 in their second innings, leaving India with a target of 245 runs to level the five-match series.

A good recovery from England as they were struggling at 122 for five at one point in their second innings.

Curran made the difference with the bat in both innings, scoring 78 in the first innings after they were reeling at 86 for six at one stage and then hit a valuable 46 in the second.
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15:50   England 271 all out; India chase 245 for victory


England 271-all out (95 ovs) & 246 vs India 273 | Scorecard

Shami bowls it short as Curran tries the pull but gets it off the bottom of the bat to mid-off. He tries another short ball but can't beat midwicket before taking a single off the fourth ball. Anderson again does well to see off the last two balls of the over.

In the next over, Curran goes for the heave against Ashwin but fails to make connection. The ball hits the pads and goes towards thirdman as Anderson calls Curran back for the second but he fails to make his ground and is run out.


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15:43   Curran extends England's lead


England 269-9 (95 ovs) & 246 vs India 273 | Scorecard

Ravichandran Ashwin to bowl from the other end. The field is well spread around for Curran as India are happy to give him a single and bring lastman James Anderson on strike.

Curran watchfully defends the first three balls before he takes a single off the fourth ball.

Two slips and short leg for Anderson, who defends the first ball he faces and gets a huge applause from the home crowd. Ashwin drives him forward to the last ball as it goes straight on and beats the bat.

Curran to face the hat-trick ball from Shami. He punches a full delivery to sweeper cover and is happy to take a single from the first ball he faces.

Anderson pokes his bat at a short wide delivery which moves away and is beaten. The left-hander then clips the fourth ball to fine leg for a single to get off the mark before Curran also takes one from the next.

Anderson turns the last ball to deep square leg and as expected turns down the single to give Curran the strike against Ashwin in the next over.

And it turns out to be a good move as Curran slaps a full delivery from Ashwin straight down the ground for a four.

Ashwin on the defensive as he bowls to the line outside the leg stump not giving the left-hander any room.

But Curran shows good maturity to tap the fifth ball to the covers and take a single, giving Anderson just one delivery to face, who offers no stroke to the last ball.

Curran has batted solidly to take his score to 45 and stretch England's lead to 245 runs, as they reach 269 for nine in 95 overs.
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15:31   Shami strikes with first ball of Day 4


England 260-9 (92 ovs) & 246 vs India 273 | Scorecard

Mohammed Shami strikes with the first ball of Day 4 as Stuart Broad got the edge and was caught behind for a duck.

The field was set for short bowling for the left-hander but Shami pitched it right up and Broad went for the drive but could only manage the edge!

A fourth wicket for Shami, who is also on a hat-trick, having dismissed Adil Rashid with the last ball of Day 3.
15:28   India eye early wkts; England aim to extend lead
England were reeling at 86/6 in the first innings of the fourth Test, but ended with 246 -- an addition of 160 runs.

In the second innings, England were 122/5, effectively only 95 runs ahead.

Had India run through the tail, the visitors would have been chasing a rather easy fourth innings target on the way to level the series.

This was not to be as the England lower order batted stoutly against the Indian attack.

By the end of the third day, the lead had increased to 233.

Not for the first time has the England tail wagged in the series.

In fact, this been the trend right through the series. So much so that out of 7 innings England have played in this series, their bottom half has outscored the top-half in 4!

Rajneesh Gupta presents complete details on how England's lower order has been a thorn in the flesh for India right through the series.
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15:25   India eye early wkts; England aim to extend lead


England 260-8 (91.5 ovs) & 246 vs India 273 | Scorecard

Welcome to the coverage of Day 4 of the fourth Test between England and India at Southampton on Sunday.

Jos Buttler hit a half-century to put England in a strong position on the third day. They would aim to extend the lead on the fourth day and hope their tail enders continue their good form in the series, while India's only target will be early wickets.

Buttler top scored with 69 to help England finish the day on 260 for eight, for an overall lead of 233 runs.

Sam Curran once again proved to be a thorn in India's flesh as he stroked a fluent 37, to follow up on his 78 in the first innings, while captain Joe Root made 48.

Buttler received good support from the stodgy Ben Stokes (30) adding 56 runs for the sixth wicket before he added 55 runs for the seventh wicket with Curran.

This was Buttler's ninth Test fifty and he showed a lot of application even though he was troubled by the initial spell from Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami.

In fact, England were in a spot of bother on 122 for five when Root was run out by Shami.

England off-spinner Moeen Ali picked up five wickets in the first innings but Ravichandran Ashwin toiled hard to claim just one wicket in his 35 overs, when he got Stokes caught in the slips.

Buttler however continued to defy the Indian bowlers in company of Curran as they consumed nearly 17 overs.

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