Ind vs Eng: India Needs 381 Runs, England 9 Wickets To Win First Test (Day Report)

India were 39 for one at stumps on the fourth day of the first Test here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium after England set them a target of 420 runs to win.

Brief scores: England 578 and 178 (Joe Root 40, Ollie Pope 28, D Bess 25, J Buttler 24; R Ashwin 6/61) India 337 all out and 39/1 (India needs 381 runs).

Chennai Test: India vs England, Day 4 Report

India were bowled out for 337 in their first innings in the morning session, 42 runs short of avoiding the follow on despite Washington Sundar's unbeaten 85. Jack Leach and paceman James Anderson took two wickets each in the morning session to pack off India after the hosts started the day 257-6.

England, who scored 578 in their first innings, decided against making the home side bat again. On a dominant day for spinners, R Ashwin claimed his 28th five-wicket haul in England's second innings.

The off-spinner sent back Rory Burns with the first ball of the innings and struck crucial blows, including taking Ben Stokes for seven.

England skipper Joe Root once again top-scored with 40 while Ollie Pope (28), Jos Buttler (24) and Dominic Bess (25) too made significant contributions.

Pace bowlers Ishant and Jasprit Bumrah took one wicket apiece. Ishant became the third Indian pacer and the six Indian bowler to get to 300 Test wickets when he got rid of Daniel Lawrence. India off-spinner R Ashwin took six wickets for 61 runs as England were bowled out for 178 in their second innings an hour before close.

Needing 420 to win, India reached 39 for one at stumps after spinner Jack Leach bowled Sharma for 12 on a deteriorating Chennai pitch. Shubman Gill, on 15, and Cheteshwar Pujara, on 12, were batting at the close with India needing another 381 runs to win the first of the four Tests.