By the end of third days play, India found themselves on a drastic position with England taking a lead over 150 runs. It is clear that India is unable to chase a score in the fourth innings and this may add to their agony with 8 English batsman still to come.
Earlier in the day, India showed some resilience as Ravindra Jadeja stitched a 77 run partnership with debutant Hanuma Vihari(56) and then batted with lower order batsman to take India’s total to 292 runs.
The Oval crowd welcomed Alastair Cook will a loud applause after he stepped down from the balcony for his last test innings. He was solid at the start of third innings alongside Keaton Jennings. England were 20/0 at tea and their lead was of 60 runs at the break.
Shami was back with some plans after the tea break as he dismissed Jennings that brought Moeen Ali to the crease. Ali was soon dismissed by Ravindra Jadeja which brought an attacking Joe Root the the crease. He counter attacked the Indian bowlers as he smashed them for boundaries to take the momentum on his side. Cook and Root played sensibly to take England’s total to 114/2 with their lead over 154 runs.
This dominant display by English team may give them another win in the series and the best goodbye they can give to Alastair Cook. Twitterverse also back England to register a win from here with the situation getting tricky for India.
Reactions
Don’t you just love the fact that this Test is heading into day 5. #ENGvIND
— Satyajeet Jadhav (@satya_j20) September 9, 2018
154 runs lead and if we hold them around 250, this is going to be a cracker one. (Lol)
hope Cook goes big and gets one last test ton tmrw. #ENGvIND— βαтsү? (@itsalokj) September 9, 2018
@cricbuzz BCCI should move some of their listA cricket to England. Because team is not bad at all, they can’t win a series after playing too much cricket in the home conditions.
— abhishek agrawal (@abhiagwl4262) September 9, 2018
If Cook scores a 100 in the second innings, will he be the first person to score a 50 and a 100 in both debut and farewell test and that too against the same opposition”
— Anand (@Anand5508) September 9, 2018
People who don’t watch cricket will never understand how the 3rd day of 5 in a ‘dead rubber’ can keep you so knuckle achingly gripped for hours… #bbccricket #cook #root #England #India
— Tim (@Ash_worth) September 9, 2018
India should not temper with @ashwinravi99 and @imjadeja in playing 11 for some timelight #ipl players in test cricket.. It’s game of consistency and pure skills. @hardikpandya7 @imkuldeep18 @RishabPant777 are ODI players. Don’t exploit them in test cricket
— shubham jain (@imshubh102) September 9, 2018
Looking at the way this #EngvInd test series went, India could have easily been on the winning side if their team selection was good and if @imVkohli as a captain performed well, not able to clean up the tails thrice does not do any good for a captain or a coach, no plan B. https://t.co/xrHxr2Fce9
— Prasenjit Dhar (@PrazForty2) September 9, 2018
If England win this Test series 4-1, it will be a travesty. This has been a great series, and India have been great & very unlucky. Every game has been finally balanced with more twists than a Harlan Coben thriller. India have been competitive, talented & likeable. #ENGvsIND
— Dominic Roskrow (@WhiskyTasting) September 9, 2018
Honestly 4-1 it is ! Although the replacements for this test were on the ball! Classic case of too little too late and the issues are far more fundamental. India is back to square one as far as international tours are concerned.
— Narayan (@Narayan89850396) September 9, 2018
4 years passed away of MS dhoni retirement in test cricket. But India in still searching ? for regular keeper who can bat well and keep well in home & away. #TeamIndia. Indian selectors would have to come with right decision in next series.
— Vemunurisaideep (@saideep1501) September 9, 2018
