11.08pm Poor old Washington. All he had to do was put away a full toss in that last over - Patel pretty much assumed he had, and hurtled for the single without looking where it had gone ... and suddenly three wickets have tumbled in five balls. Makes for a curious scorecard, and a further reminder of how close England came to keeping India in sight... but then there's no legislating for the new-age stylings of Pant and Sundar! Magnificent batting, and England will have to bat for about 10 minutes before lunch.
A word for Ben Stokes though - just 17 overs in the series before this match, and went England desperately needed him, he came to the party with a knackering and wholehearted spell of aggressive seam bowling. Two late strikes give him 4 for 89, which is no less than his toils deserve.
But, India still lead by an imposing 160... which on recent showing ought to be enough to put a three-day innings victory within reach. The pitch is not a raging turner, but Root was extracting plenty bite to suggest that Axar and Ashwin will thrive once again...
Gaurav Sundaraman has been ferreting in the stats-cave. shockingly this is just the third ever instance in Tests where both 7th wicket and 8th wicket have added 100+ . the first two were in 2008 and 2011 .
Vivek Rao: "Seven wickets to seamers and one runout. Did someone say it was a spinner's wicket?" Well quite. It's just a strip of earth that rewards good bowling, and good batting.
Jacq: "Brett Lee in 2005 Ashes, SA in worldcup semis, NZ in the WC finals and Sundar today....there are some moments where you just feel that pain for the other player / teams."
Kamal Andiwal: "Oh nooooo! I am at my office in Kabul, and was glued to my computer screen just to witness the celebration moments after hitting the century but it wasn't to be unfortunately !"
Rupam: "4 ducks in the whole Indian inning. Rohit, Pant, Sundar and Axar saved the face. You got to feel for Sundar. Hope India can now cast a web of spin around the English."
Mohammed Siraj b Stokes 0 (3m 3b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Mind you, Siraj is a proven century-maker for No.8 batsmen... here he is
I Sharma lbw b Stokes 0 (3m 1b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Right, Stokes has the ball once more. And England have an opening at last. Can they end their suffering before lunch?
END OF OVER:114 | 2 Runs 1 Wkt | IND: 365/8
- Washington Sundar96 (174b)
- Joe Root18-1-56-0
- Ben Stokes27-6-89-2
So, amid all that talk of Jayant Yadav, Saurabh spoke to him during lockdown
AR Patel run out 43 (132m 97b 5x4 1x6) SR: 44.32
END OF OVER:113 | 6 Runs | IND: 363/7
- Washington Sundar95 (169b)
- Axar Patel42 (96b)
- Ben Stokes27-6-89-2
- Joe Root17-1-54-0
The hundred partnership is up as well. And to think England scented a lead at tea yesterday...
END OF OVER:112 | 6 Runs | IND: 357/7
- Washington Sundar91 (166b)
- Axar Patel40 (93b)
- Joe Root17-1-54-0
- Ben Stokes26-6-83-2
Mandar: "Has the pitch flattened out or have England bowlers flattened out" I suspect the latter. Pant steamrolled them yesterday