England vs India 3rd Test Day 4: Buttler fights valiantly, but India one wicket away from victory

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Jos Buttler 106 England India 3rd Test Day 4 Nottingham cricket

Jos Buttler celebrates after scoring his maiden Test century

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

England batsman Jos Buttler refused to go down without a fight and scored his maiden Test century on the fourth day in Nottingham, but India inched ever closer to victory and will need one wicket to wrap things up on the final day.

India’s success on the fourth day was majorly down to pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah as he carved through England’s batting line-up with a five-wicket haul.

Starting off the day on 23/0, England only added four runs to their overnight score before opener Keaton Jennings was caught behind off the bowling of Ishant Sharma for 13.

Alastair Cook, who opened the batting with Jennings, made 17 before being caught by Lokesh Rahul at second slip off the bowling of Ishant.

England captain Joe Root was the next to go as he was caught by Rahul at second slip off the bowling of Bumrah for 13.

Ollie Pope did not fare much better as he was brilliantly caught by India skipper Virat Kohli at third slip off the bowling of Mohammed Shami for 16.

With England struggling at 62/4 in their chase of 521 to win, Buttler and Ben Stokes came to the rescue and frustrated India as they forged a 169-run partnership, during which Buttler brought up his century and Stokes his fifty.

Buttler ended up scoring a career-best 106, which came off 176 balls and included 21 boundaries, before he was given out lbw off the bowling of Bumrah.

Buttler reviewed the decision, but it didn’t pay off as replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and going on to clip middle stump.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow, who sustained a fractured left middle finger on the third day, was clean bowled for a golden duck by Bumrah on the very next ball.

Chris Woakes fell shortly after, while Stokes went on to score 62 off 187 balls, which included six boundaries, before he was caught by Rahul at second slip off the bowling of Hardik Pandya.

Ben Stokes 62 England India 3rd Test Day 4 Nottingham cricket

Ben Stokes scored his 14th Test fifty

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

With England inching ever closer to a massive defeat, Adil Rashid and Stuart Broad halted India’s charge with a 50-run stand.

However, Bumrah completed his five-for when he sent Broad packing for 20.

Jasprit Bumrah five wickets England India 3rd Test Day 4 Nottingham cricket

Jasprit Bumrah ended the day with figures of 5-85 off 29 overs

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Despite this, India were unable to get the last wicket to win the third Test as Rashid and James Anderson saw out the remaining over and amassed an unbeaten 20-run partnership.

Rashid finished on 30 off 55 balls, which included five boundaries and a six, while Anderson remained undefeated on eight off 16 deliveries, which included a solitary boundary.

Bumrah was the pick of the bowlers with five wickets, while Ishant took two, and Shami and Pandya claimed one wicket each.

England ended day four on 311/9 and will continue batting on Wednesday at 11:00 local time or 10:00 GMT.

2 thoughts on “England vs India 3rd Test Day 4: Buttler fights valiantly, but India one wicket away from victory”

  2. Thanks Roshan, yeah Buttler fought brilliantly. Stokes played really well too. But, credit to Bumrah for bowling really well and getting a five-for.

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