INDIA TOUR OF ENGLAND, 2025
Woakes dismissed Jaiswal and Sudharsan © Getty
Chris Woakes’s double-wicket maiden pushed India firmly on the backfoot after England marched to a commanding 311-run lead courtesy Ben Stokes’s magnificent 141 on Day 4 at Old Trafford. The hosts added 125 quick runs in the overcast morning session, upping the ante after the skipper’s 14th Test century. India had three overs to negotiate before Lunch but Woakes lent a double blow even before the visitors could get off the mark in their second innings.
Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj started the proceedings for India on the fourth morning and it didn’t take long for Stokes, and England, to bring up the team 550. Shortly after that, the English skipper put the team’s first innings lead past 200. Liam Dawson, the other overnight batter, however, had a few iffy moments at the crease against Bumrah, including an LBW shout, before finally losing his off-stump to the pace spearhead.
While India must have fancied their chances of wrapping up the tail cheaply, Stokes had other plans as he stuck around to not only bring up his 14th Test hundred but also take England’s lead to 30-plus. After taking a five-wicket haul earlier in the game, the English captain registered his first century in 25 months, with a leg glance to the fence off Siraj.
On one hand was Bumrah who registered the dubious record of leaking a 100-plus runs for the first time in his 48-Test career. And then, Stokes made it to an elite club of allrounders with 7000 runs and 200 wickets in the format, alongside Gary Sobers and Jacques Kallis.
Brydon Carse brought on the team’s 600 with a lucky boundary to third man fence, and the duo switched on the Bazball mode soon after. Stokes took on the spinners – dancing down the track to thump Washington Sundar for a six followed by a reverse-sweep for four more in consecutive balls. Next in the firing line was Ravindra Jadeja – a textbook backfoot drive for four and a flax six in successive deliveries. Carse joined the party at the other end, slogging twice against Washington in midwicket for a four and a six.
Stokes added the 41 runs after his century in just 34 balls, before holing out to long-on trying another big shot against Jadeja. Before walking away, he nudged Carse as England sought declaration but was turned down. Carse went on to play a handy cameo of 47 and was the last man dismissed attempting to reach his 50 with another slog. England finished on 669, a more-than-comfortable 311 ahead.
Woakes then had India on the mat in just five balls. Yashasvi Jaiswal was done in by the away movement while Sai Sudharsan was caught in two minds as both left-handers ended up edging to first and second slip respectively. India captain Shubman Gill survived a LBW shout facing the hat-trick ball, before playing out the remaining two overs quietly.
Brief scores: India 358 & 1/2 (Chris Woakes 0-2) trail England 669 (Joe Root 150, Ben Stokes 141; Ravindra Jadeja 4-143, Jasprit Bumrah 2-112) by 310 runs
© Cricbuzz
