Manchester, July 26 (UNI) England produced a dominant batting display on Day 4 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, declaring their authority with a massive total of 669 in 157.1 overs, thanks to Ben Stokes’ heroic 141 and Brydon Carse’s entertaining 47. India, in their second innings, suffered a double blow before lunch, reaching a precarious 1/2 in just 3 overs.
Resuming at 544/7, England raced past the 550-mark in the 137th over as Stokes began the morning session with aggressive intent. The England skipper registered his 14th Test hundred off 164 balls, playing a captain’s knock just a day after claiming a five-wicket haul—an all-round feat not seen from him in nearly three years. His century was brought up with a stylish leg glance, followed by a helmet-off tribute to his late father, drawing emotional applause from spectators.
Stokes then unleashed a flurry of strokes: sixes over long-off and long-on, reverse sweeps, and back-foot punches, displaying brute power and finesse in equal measure. He smashed 11 fours and 3 sixes in his 198-ball knock before falling to Ravindra Jadeja, caught by Sai Sudharsan at long-on while attempting another big hit.
Brydon Carse added crucial lower-order runs, clobbering two sixes and three fours in his entertaining 47 off 54 balls. His intent was clear—charging down to smash Washington Sundar and Jadeja over the ropes. His innings ended when he miscued a slog-sweep off Jadeja, with Siraj holding a comfortable catch at deep backward square.
Jadeja cleaned up the tail with key wickets, finishing with figures that reflected his persistence through the innings. Jasprit Bumrah too chipped in, dismissing Liam Dawson with a sharp delivery that stayed low and knocked back off stump.
India’s response was nightmarish. Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudarshan were both dismissed for ducks, leaving the visitors at 1/2 in just 3 overs. KL Rahul (1*) and Shubman Gill (0*) were at the crease at lunch, with the massive English total looming over them like a mountain.
With a deficit of 353 runs and eight wickets in hand, India face a herculean task to save this match. India heads code 358 in their first innings.
