Manchester, July 26 (UNI) England captain Ben Stokes smashed a masterful 141 to steer his team to a mammoth 669 before India responded with a spirited fightback led by Shubman Gill, who struck a resilient half-century under intense pressure on Day 4 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
Resuming on 544/7, England added 125 more runs before being bowled out in 157.1 overs. Stokes, resuming on his overnight score, brought up his 14th Test hundred with a stylish leg glance, dedicating the milestone to his late father with a helmet-off tribute. His 198-ball knock featured 11 fours and 3 sixes and showcased a blend of aggression and composure, including towering sixes, precise reverse sweeps, and back-foot drives.
Brydon Carse chipped in with a blazing 47 off 54 balls, striking two sixes and three boundaries, before falling to Ravindra Jadeja. Jadeja eventually wrapped up the innings, claiming key lower-order wickets and ending with figures reflecting his perseverance across the innings. Jasprit Bumrah bowled with venom, including a delivery that kept low to castle Liam Dawson.
India’s chase began in disarray, with openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and debutant Sai Sudharsan dismissed for ducks inside the first three overs. India stumbled to 1/2, with KL Rahul and Shubman Gill at the crease during lunch.
Post-lunch, Gill launched a stunning counterattack. Despite England’s chirping and an intense spell from Jofra Archer, Gill responded with elegance and intent, stitching together a 50-run partnership with Rahul in 15.2 overs. His strokeplay was exquisite: an upper cut over point off Archer, a sumptuous on-drive past mid-off, and several crisp back-foot punches against Woakes and Carse.
He had a slice of luck too—on 25.2, Carse drew a thick edge off Gill’s loose drive, but Liam Dawson at backward point fluffed a regulation catch. That drop proved costly, as Gill raced to his 8th Test half-century in style in the 29th over, flicking Joe Root for three to bring up the landmark in 77 balls (8×4). He raised his bat to the spectators and soaked in a well-deserved applause after weathering the early storm.
England burned two reviews in failed attempts to dismiss Gill—once off Archer and again off Carse. Both times, the ball was either too high or missing the stumps.
KL Rahul provided calm support, timing the ball sweetly off the back foot and dispatching overpitched deliveries with grace. He struck boundaries off Archer (5.1) and Woakes (12.1), holding firm on 30 at tea.
At the break, India stood at *86/2 in 29 overs, still trailing by 232 runs after scored 358 in first innings. While the top-order collapse was concerning, Gill’s composed and fluent knock has given India a glimmer of resistance as they face a daunting task to save the Test match.
