AUGUST 30, 2018
Brief Scorecard: India 19 for 0 (Rahul 11*, Dhawan 3*) trail England 246 (Curran 78, Bumrah 3-46) by 227 runs
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 30: Jasprit Bumrah of India celebrates taking the wicket of Keaton Jennings (not pictured) during Day One of the Specsavers 4th Test match between England and India at The Ageas Bowl on August 30, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami continued to torment England as India took the upper hand on the opening day of the fourth Test at Southampton.
India reached 19/0 from 4 overs with Shikhar Dhawan (3 not out) and KL Rahul (11 not out) in response to England’s first innings score of 246.
India’s Mohammed Shami appeals successfully for the wicket of England’s Ben Stokes for 23 during the first day of the fourth Test cricket match between England and India at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, southwest England on August 30, 2018. (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)
There is all to play for both teams with England leading the five-match series 2-1. England had won the first two Tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s before India fought back to win the third Test at Trent Bridge.
For the first time under Virat Kohli, India remained unchanged in a Test match. That meant Bumrah, Shami, Ishant Sharma and Hardik Pandya returned to haunt England’s batsmen. 
India’s Ishant Sharma makes an unsuccessful appeal for the wicket of England’s Adil Rashid during the first day of the fourth Test cricket match between England and India at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton, southwest England on August 30, 2018. (Photo by Glyn KIRK/AFP/Getty Images)
After Joe Root elected to bat at the Aegis Bowl, Bumrah struck early to remove Keaton Jennings. Soon after, he had trapped Root lbw – a loud appeal was overturned but when India opted to use the DRS, replays showed Bumrah had over-stepped. Had he not bowled a no-ball, Root would have been out because the ball tracker showed three red dots. The ball was clearly crashing into stumps.
However, Root could not make the most of a lucky escape and he was trapped lbw soon after by Ishant Sharma. Root chose to review but it was in vain as England lost their third wicket.
There was misery in store for England when Bumrah dismissed Jonny Bairstow for 6. He is playing this Test as a specialist batsman after suffering a minor fracture in the previous match. Alastair Cook’s poor form continued and he was sent back by Pandya for 17 as England slipped to 36 for four.
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 30: Moeen Ali of England bats during day one of the 4th Specsavers Test match between England and India at The Ageas Bowl on August 30, 2018 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, who had defied India for a while at Trent Bridge, got together again and tried to steady England. But both fell to Shami after lunch.
It was then left to Moeen Ali (40) and Sam Curran to do some repair work down the order and that was no easy task. Moeen did not play the first three Tests while Curran made way for Stokes in the third Test. But both men showed great resolve to keep a charged-up Indian attack at bay.
The duo was involved in an 81-run stand for the 7th wicket.
After Moeen’s departure, Curran continued to play his shots all over the park and soon brought up his half-century.
Cricket – England v India – Fourth Test – Ageas Bowl, West End, Britain – August 30, 2018 England’s Sam Curran Action Images via Reuters/Paul Childs
Curran forged another fifty partnership with Stuart Broad to take England’s score past 200.
Bumrah then removed Broad and Ashwin soon after got rid of Curran to bring an end to England’s innings.
Bumrah was the pick of the Indian bowlers finishing with 3/46. Ravichandran Ashwin, Shami and Ishant Sharma bagged two wickets each.
Courtesy: India Today / ESPNCricnfo
