Nagpur: Some resolute batting by Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell in the last session of the day four of the fourth Test has inched them close to a historic series win here at the Jamtha Stadium today.

India who are 1-2 down in the series and desperately looking for a series levelling were at sea as the Trott-Bell safely put up a 67 run partnership for the fourth wicket to guide the visitors to 161-3 and have taken 165 runs lead.

Trott was unbeaten on 66 off 153 balls including nine boundaries while Bell was batting on 24 off 67 balls laced with four boundaries.

England started off well and even though they did not score freely, they put up great resistance. They went to lunch for 17-0.

But India had a good post lunch session and dismissed both the openers. Ravichandran Ashwin got the first breakthrough after he had the dangerous Alastair Cook caught behind. Compton and Trott then put up a good partnership for the second wicket.

But Compton’s (34) resistance was cut after Pragyan Ojha trapped him plumb in front of the stumps.

Pietersen fell soon after the tea and that was the last wicket to fall in the day.

Earlier India starting the day on 297-8, never showed any intent. They batted for one hour but could add only 29 runs to their overnight score before declaring their innings on 323-9. Pragyan Ojha was the only batsman to get out in the day so far after he played on Monty Panesar’s delivery onto his stumps.

James Anderson was the wrecker-in-chief for England and returned with figures of 4-81.

Brief scores:

England 330 and 161 for 3 (Trott 66*, Bell 24*) lead India 326 for 9 dec (Kohli 103, Dhoni 99, Anderson 4-81) by 165 runs

Tags:
ian bell
indian sports news
jonathan trott
pragyan ojha
ravichandran ashwin

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