Sports

England on verge of defeat in third India Test despite superb Jos Buttler ton

247

India are back in the series after inflicting a huge defeat on England (Picture: Getty)

England are on the verge of an emphatic defeat against India at Trent Bridge despite Jos Buttler scoring his maiden Test century.

Having been bowled out in just 38 overs in their first innings, Joe Roots side were reduced to 311-9 on day four chasing an improbable 521 to win and clinch the series.

Buttlers century and Ben Stokes fifty gave the score a semblance of respectability but the 169-run partnership between the pair could not mask what has been a poor performance from the hosts in the third Test.

India will look to take the final wicket on day five and take the series to 2-1 with two matches remaining.

More: Cricket

Ishant Sharma celebrates the wicket of Alastair Cook (Picture: Getty)

Keaton Jennings failed to see out the first over of the day (Picture: Getty)

Ishant Sharma took less than three overs to send openers Keaton Jennings and Alastair Cook back to the pavilion in the morning session, both caught behind the wicket.

Advertisement Advertisement

Root and Ollie Pope fought hard and took the hosts to 62-2 at drinks but the skippers innings was ended when he poked at a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah and was caught at slip by KL Rahul.

Not to be outdone, Virat Kohli pulled off a stunning catch at third slip moments later when Pope needlessly flashed out an inviting half volley from Mohammed Shami, leaving England 84-4 at lunch following a brief rally from Ben Stokes and Buttler.

With England staring defeat in the face, Stokes and Buttler began to develop an impressive partnership in the afternoon session, with both passing individual fifties.

Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes shared a superb partnership (Picture: Getty)

Kohli congratulated Buttler on his maiden Test ton as he left the field (Picture: Getty)

Buttler, recalled by England for the series against Pakistan at the start of the summer, was the more positive of the two and reached his maiden Test century after tea.

With the new ball in hand, the impressive Bumrah broke the partnership that had lasted more than Englands entire first innings, trapping Buttler LBW.

Jonny Bairstow, demoted in the batting order because of his finger injury, lasted just one ball, with Bumrah knocking him over with a fine delivery that shaped in and held its line.

Bumrah was on a roll and in his next over Chris Woakes was the victim of a brutal bouncer that caught his gloves and went through to the wicket-keeper.

India defeated England inside four days in Nottingham (Picture: Getty)

All-rounder Hardik Pandya, who took five wickets in the first innings, joined the party soon after, dismissing Stokes for a well-made 62.

Advertisement Advertisement

Bumrah thought he had completed his five-wicket haul with the dismissal of Adil Rashid, who edged to Kohli in the slips, but replays showed he had committed a no-ball.

He was not to be denied a second Test five-wicket haul, however, and finally raised the ball to the crowd and his team-mates half an hour later as Stuart Broad nicked behind to Rahul, who took seven catches in the match.

Despite claiming the extra half an hour, India were unable to take the final wicket, meaning England will resume on day five on 311-9.