Kohli smashes double ton as England wilt

STA R bat sma ma n V i r a t K o h l i smashed a double centur y before efore Engla nd slumped mped to 182-6 at stumpstumps on day four ass India closed i n on v ictor y i n t he f ou r t h Te s t yesterday.

Captain Kohli ohli struck 235 runs for r his third double ton of the year and Jayant Yadavdav scored a maiden Test century to fire India to a huge first innings score of 631.

England requirequire something extraordinarordinar y to happen to avoidoid a Test and series defeat after a host of their top-order batsmenbatsme then wilted in the MumbaiMumba heat, leaving the visitors trai trailing by 49 runs going into theth final day. England lost three quic quick wickets in just 13.2 overs at th the Wankhede Stadium as theirthe s e c - ond innings go got off to a nightnight mare start,star all but end endi n g t h e i r h o p e s o f mounting a comeback comeback. Keato Keaton J e n - n i n g s , w h o scored a century on his Test debut in the first innings, went for a golden duck, out lbw off Indian medium pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja then took captain Alastair Cook for 18 and Moeen Ali, who lasted only three balls and failed to get off the mark.

Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow did their best to restore some respectability by putting on a fourth-wicket partnership of 92 before the former was bowled lbw by Yadav for 77 runs.

Ben Stokes came and went for 18 while Bairstow was unbeaten on 50 at stumps.

Kohli blasted a double century that included 25 fours and one six during his 340-ball stay. It marked his third double century of 2016 in what has been a sensational and recordbreaking year for the Indian skipper.

“He’s very much suited to playing in these conditions. If you’re not bang on the money and take your chances then he’ll punish you,” England bowler James Anderson said of Kohli.

The 28-year-old Kohli put on a massive 241-run partnership with Yadav as England failed to take any wickets during the morning session.

Kohli removed his helmet and raised his bat to the adoring crowd (pictured, AFP) as he brought up his double ton with a single off his 302nd ball of the match.

He was eventually caught out by Anderson from Chris Woakes.

England, who scored 400 in t heir f irst innings, must win to keep t he series a live going into the fifth Test in Chennai, a feat t hat now looks a ll but impossible.

“We’re going to come here and try to fight our way back into the game if we can,” said Anderson. “We’re [about] 50 runs behind. If we can bat with positive intent . . . there’s no reason we can’t get 100 ahead of them and try to put pressure on them with the ball.”