Eng vs Ind, 5th Test, Day 4 | India extends lead to 361 after Rishabh Pant's fifty
The Hindu
Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammad Shami were in the middle at the lunch break with India reaching 229 for seven in 73 overs
India gifted easy wickets to England but Rishabh Pant's half-century allowed them to extend their lead to 361 runs at lunch on day four of the rescheduled fifth in Birmingham on Monday.
First innings centurion Ravindra Jadeja (17 off 36) and Mohammad Shami (13 off 12) were in the middle at the break with India reaching 229 for seven in 73 overs.
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Resuming their second innings at 125 for three, overnight batters Cheteshwar Pujara (66 off 168) and Pant (57 off 86) made a confident start.
Pujara got going with a back-foot punch and a flick off James Anderson for consecutive boundaries.
Compared to his first innings heroics, Pant looked more measured in his approach. Pujara, who had reached the 50-run mark on Sunday, was hardly troubled by the English pacers. Pant and Pujara's job was made easier with Ben Stokes giving three overs to part-timer Joe Root after start of play.
The Saurashtra batter however contributed to his own downfall by cutting a short and wide ball off Stuart Broad straight to backward point. It is his pet shot but couldn't keep it down for a change.