JOE PLOTTING ESCAPE ROOT
Super century gives England faint hope
ENGLAND captain Joe Root scored a magnificent century to revive his team’s chances – then vowed to throw everything at India in a bid to seal victory on the final day.
Root’s fourth hundred of the calendar year may yet prove his most important.
Having been bundled out for 183 on day one, the hosts set India a target of
209 after managing to post 303 in their second innings.
With Stuart Broad grabbing the wicket of opener KL Rahul before the close, Virat Kohli’s men need another
157 to win on the final day after reaching stumps on 52-1.
But whatever happens from here, Root’s 21st Test century has ensured a grandstand finish in Nottingham.
“I certainly enjoyed the century,” said Root. “Hopefully it can be enough and contribute to a win.
“There feels like there’s nine chances out there tomorrow and the belief will be there and we’ll make sure we throw everything we can at them.”
The good news for England is they have never lost a Test match in which Root has scored a century.
Whatever the result on the final day, England’s reliance on Root’s batting is obvious and the likes of Dominic Sibley, Zak Crawley and Dan Lawrence are under pressure for their place ahead of the second Test at Lord’s.
Crawley’s lack of form since he hit
267 against Pakistan is stark. He was the second wicket of the day to fall after England, resuming 70 runs behind on 25-0 in their second innings, saw Rory Burns edge Mohammed Siraj behind in the fifth over of the day.
By the time Crawley was dismissed by Jasprit Bumrah, the hosts were 46-2.
Yet Root and Sibley stabilised things and by lunch they had knocked off the first-innings deficit and given their team a lead of 24.
Root, who made 64 in the first innings, had posted his second 50-plus score in a Test for the first time since January last year when he cut Mohammed
Shami down to third man seven minutes before lunch.
He got to the landmark in 68 balls. In contrast, Sibley’s go-slow saw him reach the interval on 27 from 116 balls. The opener departed early in the afternoon session to end an 89-run stand with Root, caught behind to Bumrah.
Knocks from Jonny Bairstow and Lawrence extended their advantage to
140 by tea, England now six wickets down and with Root poised on 96.
But Jos Buttler got out cheaply before Root could get to three figures.
England’s lead was up to 179 by the time Root eventually succumbed to Bumrah, the second new ball doing the trick as an edge flew through to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant.
Sam Curran and Ollie Robinson helped get
India’s target beyond
200 before the innings was terminated to leave this thrilling
Test poised for any side to take.