Washington and Jadeja's Gritty Fifties Help India Edge Ahead of England

Washington and Jadeja's Gritty Fifties Help India Edge Ahead of England

India inched into the lead against England on a grinding fourth day of the final Test, thanks to resilient half-centuries from Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja. The duo added 99 runs in the afternoon session alone and shared an unbroken 100-run stand for the fifth wicket, steering India to 322 for 4 at tea—11 runs ahead of England’s first-innings total of 669.

Washington, promoted to No. 5 for the first time in his Test career, repaid the faith by counterattacking the England bowlers. He reached his fifty in style, hooking Ben Stokes for a six before pulling him for a four in the same over. Jadeja followed suit moments later, benefiting from a misfield by Zak Crawley to raise his fifth half-century in his last six innings.

The left-hander had a stroke of luck early in his innings when he was dropped first ball by Joe Root at slip off Jofra Archer. He celebrated his milestone with his trademark sword celebration and also became the seventh Indian—and third this week after KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant—to reach 1,000 Test runs in England.

Despite a massive first-innings lead of 311 runs, England's hopes of forcing a result were frustrated by the lack of bite in the pitch and the discipline of India’s middle order. The surface has shown minimal deterioration, offering little assistance to spinners or seamers alike. Root and Liam Dawson tried to find inroads with their offspin, while Archer and Stokes bent their backs without much reward.

England’s close fielders showed occasional signs of life with appeals and hopeful reactions to tight leaves and inside edges, but genuine chances were few and far between. With India now slightly ahead and six wickets in hand, a draw appears the most likely outcome. The captains may even agree to call off play in the final hour, though Stokes—who has overseen only one draw in his captaincy tenure so far—may opt to keep pressing.

At tea, the scoreboard read:
India 358 & 322/4 (Gill 103, Rahul 90, Washington 57, Jadeja 53)**
India lead England (669) by 11 runs

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