Ashwin picks up 6 wickets on Day 4 of the 1st Test

The pace of the game picked up on Day 4 of the 1st Test Match between India and England in Chennai. The fourth day was an evenly fought contest which nicely sets up the series opener as it heads to day 5 with all three results still possible. India ended the day at 34-1, chasing 420 in the fourth innings of the Test in search of victory. The headline of the day’s play was the performance of off-spinner R Ashwin who picked up 6 wickets in England’s second innings.

The day started with a flurry of boundaries from the Chennai pair of R Ashwin and Washington Sundar in India’s first innings. Ashwin was soon undone by a delightful piece of bowling by Jack Leach, who grew in confidence in the Test after the mauling suffered on Day 3 at the hands of Rishabh Pant. India was eventually bowled out for 337 and managed to limit the 1st innings lead to 241 thanks to an unbeaten 85 from Washington Sundar. England decided against enforcing the follow-on, preferring to bat again and get the Indians all out on day 5.

The 3rd innings started in the worst possible way for England, with R Ashwin getting Rory Burns out on the very first ball. The pitch was offering considerable amounts of bounce and turn to the Indian spinners compared to its docile nature on Days 1 and 2. There was also the occasional ball that kept low or spun sharply out of the footmarks. India was able to run through England’s top order with relative ease in the post-lunch session. Ashwin dismissed both openers before Ishant Sharma took his 300th wicket to dismiss Daniel Lawrence. Ishant was the 3rd Indian pace bowler to reach this landmark after Kapil Dev and Zaheer Khan.

England adopted a more watchful approach in the last session of the day, with Jos Buttler and Dom Bess going at only 2 runs an over despite the need of the hour being a few quick runs before a declaration. England chose the more defensive option and looked to bat time, with Joe Root and the England management opting not to declare despite having over 380 runs on the board. Eventually, Ashwin cleaned up the tail to pick up 6 wickets in the innings and bowl the visitors out for 178. This was Ashwin’s 28th 5 wicket haul and 22nd in India. It was also his 3rd 5-fer at his home ground of Chennai and 5th against England.

England set the Indians a target of 420 in the final innings and managed to make a key breakthrough before the end of day’s play. Despite despatching Jofra Archer for a four and a six in the previous over, Rohit Sharma fell to Jack Leach. It was a peach of a delivery that the Indian opener could do little about, pitching on middle stump, the ball spun away to hit the top of off and give England the early breakthrough. Cheteshwar Pujara and Shubman Gill managed to see out the rest of the day with India at 39-1. 

All 3 results are still possible on the final day. England needs 9 wickets to go 1-0 up in the series while India needs to bat 90 overs on a spinning track to secure the draw or score an unlikely 381 more runs to earn a famous win.