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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Matthew Cooper

Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow put England on way to record-breaking win vs India

England will need to make history in their bid to win the rescheduled fifth Test against India and level the series after being set 378 to win.

The hosts have enjoyed a brilliant start to life under Test coach Brendon McCullum, with successful fourth innings chases quickly becoming a feature of 'Bazball'. In the recent series win over New Zealand, England chased down 277, 299 and 296 to whitewash the World Test Champions.

However, 378 would be England's highest-ever successful run chase and it was always going to be a massive challenge given the strength of India's bowling attack. Remarkably, though, England are more than in with a chance heading into day five after reaching 260-3 at the close with Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow both not out after sharing a 150-run partnership.

After play resumed with India on 125-3 with a lead of 257, England did well to bowl the visitors out for 245. Veteran Cheteshwar Pujara and first-innings centurion Rishabh Pant both made half-centuries, but no other batter passed 23 as England captain Ben Stokes picked up 4-33.

Pujara fell to Stuart Broad for a well-made 66, before Shreyas Iyer was out cheaply to England's short ball ploy for the second time in the Test. Pant, having made a stunning 146 in the first innings, was then removed for a crucial 57 after attempting to reverse sweep Jack Leach to the boundary and getting caught by Root at first slip.

Stokes then picked up three of the remaining four wickets as India were bowled out. In response, Alex Lees and Zak Crawley got England off to an absolute flier, with the pair bringing up their fifty partnership off just nine overs.

Lees initially led the way, showcasing his stark transformation from stubborn blocker to free flowing stroke maker as he scored his second half-century for England. Crawley also began to find some much-needed form, helping put on England's fastest-ever century opening stand off just 19.5 overs.

Alex Lees got England off to a flier with his second Test fifty (Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

Crawley ultimately fell four runs short of his half-century after shouldering arms to a ball from Jasprit Bumrah that crashed into his off-stump. Bumrah then removed Ollie Pope with the first ball after tea for a duck, before Lees was run out for 56 after a terrible mix-up with Root as the momentum swung back in India's favour.

However, Root and Bairstow managed to navigate their way through a difficult period, before looking to cash in as they shared a magnificent partnership and ended the day on 76 and 73 respectively. England will resume their innings tomorrow needing a further 119 runs to win and Root and Bairstow will be the key.

India could still win the match and the series, but England are now the favourites given the Root and Bairstow's partnership and their recent form. The only thing that is for certain is those fans who are lucky enough to get hold of a free ticket tomorrow are in for another dramatic final day.

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