Brilliant India resists with 3 centuries to draw 4th test against England and stay alive in series

By Canadian Press on July 27, 2025.

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — A roller-coaster of a test series between England and India is, fittingly, going down to the wire.

India, against the odds, salvaged a draw in the fourth test with a show of grit and sheer defiance at Old Trafford on Sunday, and kept alive its hopes of tying the five-match series at the Oval.

England leads the series 2-1.

India was 425-4 in its second innings – including three centuries – and 114 runs ahead when an early end to the final session was called.

This test might not have matched the drama at Lord’s when England won by 22 runs, but it was engrossing throughout five days in Manchester, with India turning the tide after looking like being swept away.

By Sunday evening, India’s collapse in the opening over of its second innings a day earlier seemed an age away. At 0-2 at that point and 311 runs behind, the series looked lost.

Not on Shubman Gill’s watch. Not with an Indian batting order of such quality it has the top four run-scorers in the series.

Top of the lot is Gill, who hit his fourth century of the series to provide the platform for the recovery. He was supported by KL Rahul (90), Ravindra Jadeja (107 not out) and Washington Sundar (101 not out) and, combined, they frustrated an England attack that simply ran out of ideas.

It sets up a tense final test, which starts on Thursday.

___

James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

___

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

James Robson, The Associated Press