India Lost Four Wickets For 134-runs, Lead 285 End of Forth Day

Mohali: India lost a few quick wickets but recovered sufficiently to put themselves in a position to push for an improbable victory on the fifth day though a draw appears to be the likely result in the second and final Test against England on Monday.

After bundling out England for 302 in the first innings, the hosts were 44 for three at one stage but accelerated the pace of scoring late in the day to reach 134 for four at close on the penultimate day, taking an overall lead of 285 runs.

This was a time to boss England, but instead India were forced to scrap. Any thoughts that India had of quickly piling onto to a 151-run lead, taken through Harbhajan Singh's quick strikes on another foggy morning, evaporated in the afternoon sunshine as England turned in a vigorous spell. In an enthralling session between lunch and tea, a disciplined England seam attack removed Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar to rattle India, and suddenly the hosts were on the back foot. Sitting on a 1-0 lead going into the final day of the series, they needed a counterpunching innings from Yuvraj Singh to get back into safe territory, ending the day 285 in front with six wickets in hand.

Day 4 Highlights

• India didn't take long to wrap the England innings as Harbhajan came to the party. The home side stuttered with the bat in the second innings before Gambhir and Yuvraj dropped anchor.
• Three successive series in which Gautam Gambhir has aggregated 300-runs or more. He is the only Indian batsman to have don so in the last three Test series, apart from averaging over 50 in each series. Series are Sri Lanka, Australia and England.
• 15th times an Indian batsman has made a ton and a duck in the same Test, with Rahul Dravid being the latest.
• 33 times England scored 300 or more runs in an innings in India, including 302 in the first innings at Mohali.
• 63 wickets claimed by Harbhajan Singh in 13 Test in 2008. He is the third bowler to capture more than 60 wickets this year. Dale Steyn (64 in 12 Test) and Mitchell Johnson (61 in 13 Test) are the others. For Bhajji only one inning to go in this year, while Styen and Johnson one match statring from 26.

Reports by session:
1st Session: Runs 29, Wkt 4, Ovr 12.5
2nd Session: Runs 47, Wkt 3, Ovr 23
3rd Session: Runs 78, Wkt 1, Ovr 25

Brief Score: India 453 and 134 for 4 (Gambhir 44*, Yuvraj 39*) lead England 302 by 285 runs
Full Scorecard