ENG v IND, 4th Test: India Needs 8 Wickets, England 237 Runs With 2 Sessions To Go

Cricket Image for ENG v IND, 4th Test: India Needs 8 Wickets, England 237 Runs With 2 Sessions To Go (Image Source: Twitter)

India struck twice in the 1st session of day 5 at the Oval as England reached the score of 131/2 in its chase of 368 runs to win the 4th test. 

Resuming the day at 77/0, openers Haseeb Hameed and Rory Burns came in with the defensive mode on. There was nothing in the pitch so the Indian bowlers stuck to the wicket-to-wicket line and didn't allow easy boundaries. 

Burns reached his fifty but right after that, Shardul Thakur got the breakthrough as the left-handed opener edged one to the keeper. Dawid Malan joined Hameed at the crease, who continued to defend, and reached his fifty shortly. 

Ravindra Jadeja, who was continuously troubling the batters, almost got Hameed caught at mid-on but unfortunately, Mohammed Siraj dropped it. Malan survived 33 deliveries but a miscommunication between the two batters caused a run-out and he had to go back to the pavilion. 

The last 30 minutes saw both Hameed and Joe Root being a bit tentative against the tight lines being bowled by the Indians. 

Brief Score: 

England - 131/2 in 59 overs (Haseeb Hameed - 62*, Rory Burns - 50)