India extends lead to 160 on third morning in Ahmedabad

Washington Sundar was stranded on 96 not out as India established a hefty 160-run lead in the first innings of the fourth Test in Ahmedabad.
The hosts added 69 runs in the first 90 minutes on day three, extending their advantage in ruthless fashion, before losing all three of their remaining wickets in the space of five balls to finish 365 all out.
Sundar was seemingly on course for a well-deserved maiden century but saw Axar Patel run out for 43 after sending him back at the non-striker’s end and did not regain the strike before Ben Stokes made short work of tailenders Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Siraj.
Serious heart from our bowlers, but a big lead for India.
Scorecard: https://t.co/WSOiI7jhNW#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/vKCt8Doiif
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) March 6, 2021
The swift conclusion left England’s openers with three awkward overs to face before the break, but there were no scares as Zak Crawley and Dom Sibley shaved six off the deficit.
India resumed their innings in buoyant spirits, riding high after Rishabh Pant’s game-changing 101 on the second evening.
England’s weary attack would have been hoping to bring a quick end to the innings but soon found themselves in a familiar conundrum. While James Anderson was able to hold down one end for five overs at a cost of just four runs, Joe Root’s decision to throw his support behind the struggling Dom Bess did not come off.
His two overs leaked 15 runs, including two boundaries and a six from Sundar. Root’s attempts at bolstering the off-spinner’s confidence had taken a swift turn for the worse and he was promptly removed with his self-belief suffering again.
Sundar and Patel had no intention of making life easy for England, scoring 50 in the first hour and batting with the kind of freedom only a healthy scoreboard can provide.
Jack Leach was tighter than Bess but worryingly docile, generating no real chances as the game drifted ever further away.
After more than 100 overs of work in sweltering 38-degree heat, England were understandably flagging, with Root filling in for Bess with the ball and Stokes flogging his body for the cause.
It took a run out to end the eighth-wicket stand at 106, Patel setting off ambitiously before Jonny Bairstow and Root combined to raise the bails at the bowler’s end. By then, Sundar had moved within a boundary of a special landmark but he did not face another ball.
Gratefully accepting the opportunity to cash in on his hard work, Stokes had Ishant lbw first ball with a big in-swinger then rushed one through Siraj to finish with hard-earned figures of four for 89.
Latest
-
England
Marcus Trescothick says Andrew Flintoff ‘sprinkling gold-dust’ on England team
Flintoff was initially enlisted for four ODIs against New Zealand but has hung around for the Ireland series.
-
England
Axed Jason Roy urged to remain positive with World Cup role still a possibility
The big-hitting opener was replaced by Harry Brook in England’s squad for the World Cup.
-
England
ECB unable to commit to ICEC report’s equal pay targets for men and women
The ICEC report said women were treated as “second class citizens” in cricket.
-
England
ECB set to publish response to damning report on discrimination in cricket
Richard Thompson, chair of the ECB, unreservedly apologised when the ICEC’s findings were published in June.
-
England
Sam Hain reveals sleepless night before impressive England debut
The Warwickshire batter scored 89 to set up a win over Ireland in the second ODI.
-
England
Will Jacks pleased to take his chance to impress in England success
The batter made a dazzling 94 off 88 balls in the one-day international win over Ireland at Trent Bridge.
-
England
Sam Hain and Will Jacks star as new-look England beat Ireland at Trent Bridge
Teenage leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed collected four for 54 as Ireland were all out for 286.
-
England
Will Jacks and Sam Hain shine as England post 334 against Ireland
Jacks made 94 off 88 balls while Hain hit 89 in the second one-day international.
-
County Cricket
Surrey close on title as rivals Essex beaten by Liam Dawson-inspired Hampshire
The reigning champions are 20 points clear of second-placed Essex heading into the final round of fixtures.
-
England
Ben Duckett at peace with World Cup omission and looking forward to India series
The batter has switched focus to his next duel.