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Kohli scores, India soar

MUMBAI: Virat Kohli leapt in the air, punched his fist and spread his arms to acknowledge the standing ovation from the Wankhede crowd. Yet another Test century for the Indian skipper in what is turning out to be a remarkable year for him.

Kohli scores, India soar

Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring a century as Moeen Ali looks on during the third day of the fourth Test in Mumbai. PTI



Sabi Hussain

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, december 10

Virat Kohli leapt in the air, punched his fist and spread his arms to acknowledge the standing ovation from the Wankhede crowd. Yet another Test century for the Indian skipper in what is turning out to be a remarkable year for him. It wasn't just another Test hundred for the man in form. It was probably one of his finest, full of character and under very testing conditions.

Even England players would admit to this fact.

They shook hands with Kohli to appreciate the herculean effort as the players walked off the field after a day of see-saw battle.

Kohli's unbeaten 147 showed what Test cricketers are made of: strong-willed individuals who thrive in challenging conditions.

During his masterclass, Kohli overcame a difficult third day Wankhede pitch offering sharp turn and bounce. He faced a stiff opposition as India had lost four wickets for 45 runs in the middle session. And then, he just had the lower-order with him to wage a grim battle.

But, Kohli surmounted all difficulties. He cut, drove, pull, lofted and ran hard to neutralise England's challenge. He raised three significant partnerships, including two crucial ones with Ravindra Jadeja (25) and Jayant Yadav (30 not out), to first equal England's total of 400 and then securea vital lead of 51 runs.

In the process, he became the first Indian captain in 35 years to make 500 runs or more in a series.

The only blemish in his innings was the return catch he offered to Adil Rashid, which the leg-spinner dropped. Kohli was on 68 then.

At stumps, India were 451/7 in 142 overs, with Kohli and Yadav around. Their unbeaten eighth-wicket partnership has yielded 87 runs so far as they batted for 24.1 overs in the final session.

For England, their two spinners, Moeen Ali and Rashid, bowled their heart out, sending down 89 overs between them and sharing four wickets. But, it was Joe Root's twin strike that brought the visitors back into the game. Root, importantly, bagged the prize-scalp of Ravichandran Ashwin.

Vijay-Kohli partnership

India started the day at 146/1, with Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara (47) looking to consolidate the innings as the hosts trailed by 254 runs. England jolted the Indian hopes by scalping Pujara off only the second ball.

Kohli took eight deliveries to get off the mark with a four. Vijay, unbeaten on 70, surged to his century with a lofted drive over the long-on boundary.

Vijay, overnight on 70, moved into the 90s with a cover drive off Ben Stokes. He then completed his eighth Test hundred and second of the series with a gentle push off Ali towards the point region.

Middle-order collapse

England scalped four wickets for the addition of just 45 runs to make India slump from 262/2 to 307/6 after lunch. The slide started with the wicket of Vijay, who was caught and bowled by Rashid, for a well-made 136 off 282 balls. Six overs later, Ali had Karun Nair (13) trapped leg before with the help of DRS. Cook was off the field when Root brought himself on and it proved to be a master-stroke. He got rid of Parthiv Patel (15) and Ashwin (0) in successive overs. Ashwin was unfortunate as Keaton Jennings' pouched his flick instinctively at short-leg to complete a lucky catch. The spinners did not allow Kohli to score a boundary from the 69th to 99th over.

In his fourth spell, Rashid sent down 28 overs without a break and got two wickets.

Kohli's class

Kohli raised a 57-run stand for the seventh-wicket with Jadeja and then forged a crucial partnership with Yadav to put England on the back foot. Kohli's footwork ensured he got plenty of runs in the square-leg region.

Scoreboard

England 1st innings 400
India 1st innings (Overnight 146/1)
KL Rahul b Ali 24
M Vijay c&b Rashid 136
C Pujara b Ball 47
V Kohli batting 147
K Nair lbw b Ali 13
P Patel c Bairstow b Root 15
R Ashwin c Jennings b Root 0
R Jadeja c Buttler b Rashid 25
J Yadav batting 30
Extras: (B 5, LB 7, W 2) 14
Total: (7 wickets; 142 overs) 451
FOW: 1-39, 2-146, 3-262, 4-279, 5-305, 6-307, 7-364

Bowling
J Anderson 15-5-43-0
C Woakes 8-2-34-0
M Ali 45-5-139-2
A Rashid 44-5-152-2
J Ball 14-5-29-1
B Stokes 8-2-24-0
J Root 8-2-18-2

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