A calm Ben Stokes glanced by means of the stands because the trumpets belted out the Superman theme and the Barmy Military chanted his identify.
The England captain was on 99, and was overwhelmed by Washington Sundar a couple of instances. Because the sound of the trumpets grew louder and the followers waited for him to attain a much-deserved Take a look at century — his first in additional than two years — Stokes adjusted his helmet and finally leg-glanced Mohammed Siraj to the fence.
The Outdated Trafford was on its toes as Stokes (141, 198b, 11×4, 3×6) took off his helmet and did the two-fingered salute to the skies. It turned out to be a particular outing as he introduced up his 14th century, following a five-for. He finally guided England to 669 because the hosts gained an enormous 311-run lead.
In what might probably be a series-decider, Chris Woakes added to India’s woes earlier than lunch by eradicating Yashasvi Jaiswal and B. Sai Sudharsan off consecutive deliveries with no runs on the board. Nevertheless, displaying resilience, captain Shubman Gill ( 78 batting, 167b, 10×4) and Ok.L. Rahul (87 batting, 210b, 8×4) defied the English bowlers for greater than 62 overs to take India to 174 for 2 at stumps.
Ben Stokes grew to become the thirteenth England batter to go previous 7,000 Take a look at runs.
| Picture Credit score:
PTI
Ben Stokes grew to become the thirteenth England batter to go previous 7,000 Take a look at runs.
| Picture Credit score:
PTI
Trailing by 137 runs, saving the Take a look at match remains to be a great distance, however Gill and Rahul instilled that perception within the camp. Taking advantage of a reprieve, Gill counter-attacked with a canopy drive and executed an higher minimize as effectively for 2 fours off Jofra Archer.
With the floor easing out and Stokes not bowling as a result of a hamstring pull, England’s assault didn’t carry the identical edge. Regardless of going through a short-ball ploy, Gill and Rahul confirmed steely resolve and went on to create milestones.
Rahul grew to become the second Asian opener after Sunil Gavaskar (542 in 1979) to mixture 500-plus (508) runs in a Take a look at collection in England. Gill grew to become the primary Asian batter to attain 650 runs or extra in a collection in England.
The England captain created data too earlier within the day. Stokes made it to an elite membership of all-rounders with 7,000 runs and 200 wickets in the format, alongside Garry Sobers and Jacques Kallis. He additionally grew to become simply the fourth England participant to attain a century and declare a five-wicket haul in the identical contest.
Because the day started, India, needing solely three wickets, fancied its probabilities of wrapping up issues rapidly. Nevertheless, with Stokes round, there was not a lot that the Indian bowlers might do. Anshul Kamboj wasn’t given a single over, whereas Jasprit Bumrah leaked 100-plus (112) runs for the first time in his 48-Take a look at profession.
This was additionally the first time, since 2014, that India conceded 600 runs in a Take a look at innings. Stokes took on the spinners after his century. He added 38 runs off simply 34 balls after his milestone, earlier than holing out to long-on, trying a giant shot towards Ravindra Jadeja.
Stokes had put England on high. However with Gill and Rahul rising to the event, all was not misplaced for India.