When India Nearly Pulled Off a 2-2 Test Series Comeback in Southampton

Chasing 245 runs to win and level the series 2-2, India was in with a real chance. However, things took a disappointing turn on Day 4. The Indian batting lineup collapsed under pressure, and what looked like a winnable game quickly turned into a heartbreak. Let’s look back at how the match slipped away and how England took an unassailable 3-1 lead.

India vs England: 4th Test from 30th August — 2nd September 2018

The fourth Test of the India tour of England, played at Southampton from August 30 to September 2, 2018, was a thrilling contest that saw England clinch a 60-run victory, taking a 3-1 lead in the five-match series. The match showcased intense battles between bat and ball, with standout performances from Moeen Ali, who earned Player of the Match honors, and Sam Curran, whose all-round contributions were vital.

England’s 1st Innings

England won the toss and chose to bat, but India’s pacers came out swinging. Jasprit Bumrah got Keaton Jennings lbw for a duck in just the second over, and Ishant Sharma pinned Joe Root lbw for 4. Alastair Cook scrapped for 17, hitting three boundaries, before Hardik Pandya had him caught by Virat Kohli. Jonny Bairstow managed only 6 before Bumrah struck again, leaving England in deep trouble at 36/4.

Ben Stokes battled for 23, stroking three fours, but Mohammed Shami got him lbw. Jos Buttler tried to counterattack with a quick 21, including three boundaries, only for Shami to dismiss him, caught by Kohli. Things looked grim at 86/6, but Moeen Ali dug in for a gritty 40, smashing two sixes and two fours. Then came Sam Curran, the young star, who played a gem of an innings, scoring 78 with eight fours and a six off 136 balls. Their fightback gave England hope. Ravichandran Ashwin broke through, getting Moeen caught and later bowling Curran.

Adil Rashid scratched around for 6 before Ishant trapped him lbw, and Stuart Broad’s 17, with a boundary, ended with Bumrah’s third wicket. James Anderson was left not out on 0 as England folded for 246 in 76.4 overs. India’s bowlers were relentless as Bumrah took 3/46, Shami 2/51, and Ashwin 2/40. A hefty 34 extras, including 23 byes, padded England’s total. The top order crumbled, but Curran’s fearless knock and Moeen’s contribution ensured a respectable score. India’s disciplined attack made life tough, but England’s lower order showed enough heart to keep them in the game.

India 1st Innings

India’s reply started steadily, with Shikhar Dhawan and KL Rahul putting on 37 runs. Stuart Broad got the breakthrough, trapping Rahul lbw for 19, with two fours. Dhawan followed for 23, hitting three boundaries, caught by Jos Buttler off Broad. Cheteshwar Pujara was the rock, batting through for an unbeaten 132 off 257 balls, his 16 fours a masterclass in patience. Virat Kohli looked solid, scoring 46 with six fours, and shared a vital 92-run stand with Pujara before Sam Curran had him caught by Alastair Cook.

Ajinkya Rahane got 11 but fell lbw to Ben Stokes, and Rishabh Pant had a tough debut, bagging a 29-ball duck off Moeen Ali’s spin. Moeen was the wrecker-in-chief, grabbing 5/63, tearing through Hardik Pandya (4, with a four), Ravichandran Ashwin (1), and Mohammed Shami (0) in quick succession. Ishant Sharma chipped in with 14, including two fours, before Moeen got him caught by Cook. Jasprit Bumrah scratched out 6 before Broad wrapped things up, bowling India out for 273 in 84.5 overs, a slim 27-run lead. Broad took 3/63, while Curran and Stokes chipped in with a wicket each.

India’s 17 extras, including 9 byes, helped their cause. Pujara’s marathon effort kept India ahead, soaking up pressure and steering them past England’s total. But Moeen’s spin turned the tide, exploiting the pitch’s turn to spark a middle-order collapse. Kohli’s steady knock and Pujara’s grit gave India the edge, but England’s bowlers, led by Moeen’s magic, kept the game tight. India showed heart, but their middle order’s wobble after Kohli’s exit meant the lead wasn’t as big as it could’ve been, setting up a tense second half.

England 2nd Innings

England’s second innings got off to a rocky start. Jasprit Bumrah sent Alastair Cook packing for 12, caught by KL Rahul. Moeen Ali hit a quick 9, with two fours, before Ishant Sharma had him caught by Rahul too. Keaton Jennings fought hard for 36, stroking six fours, and put on 59 runs with Joe Root, who made a classy 48 with six boundaries. But Mohammed Shami got Jennings lbw, and Root was run out after a mix-up, leaving England at 92/4.

Jonny Bairstow fell for a first-ball duck, bowled by Shami, piling on the pressure. Ben Stokes knuckled down for 30 off 110 balls, with two fours, while Jos Buttler played a match-defining 69, hitting seven fours in a patient 122-ball stay. Their 56-run stand steadied the ship. Sam Curran kept the momentum going with a vital 46, including six fours, but India’s bowlers hit back. Shami was brilliant, taking 4/57, dismissing Adil Rashid (11, with two fours) and Stuart Broad (0) in quick succession. Ravichandran Ashwin got Stokes caught by Ajinkya Rahane, and Ishant trapped Buttler lbw.

James Anderson hung on for 1 not out as England were bowled out for 271 in 96.1 overs, setting India a tricky 245 to chase. The innings had 9 extras, mostly byes. Shami’s fiery spell and Ishant’s 2/36 kept India in the fight, but Buttler’s calm knock and Curran’s contribution ensured a challenging target. England’s middle order showed grit, recovering from a shaky 33/2 to post a competitive score. India’s bowlers worked hard, with Shami leading the charge on a pitch starting to turn. England’s ability to grind out runs through Buttler’s class and Curran’s fight gave their bowlers a decent total to defend, setting the stage for a thrilling final day.

India 2nd Innings

Chasing 245, India’s second innings began disastrously. KL Rahul was bowled by Stuart Broad for a duck in the third over, and Cheteshwar Pujara, after facing just 14 balls, was trapped lbw by James Anderson for 5, with a review confirming the umpire’s call. Shikhar Dhawan showed brief promise with 17, including three boundaries, but Anderson had him caught by Ben Stokes at slip, leaving India reeling at 22/3 after 8.3 overs. The responsibility fell on Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane to rescue the innings. Kohli, batting with composure, scored 58 off 130 balls, hitting four boundaries, while Rahane played a gritty 51 off 159 balls, with just one four, focusing on survival.

Their 101-run partnership for the fourth wicket, built over 248 balls, revived India’s hopes, taking them to 123 by the 50th over. However, Moeen Ali turned the game, dismissing Kohli, caught by Alastair Cook at slip, after a review upheld the decision. Hardik Pandya followed for a seven-ball duck, caught by Joe Root off Ben Stokes, denting India’s momentum. Rishabh Pant injected brief excitement with 18 off 12 balls, including a six and two fours, but Moeen dismissed him, caught by Cook. Rahane’s long vigil ended lbw to Moeen, with a review failing to save him, triggering a collapse.

Ravichandran Ashwin fought bravely, scoring 25 with a six and two fours, but Sam Curran trapped him lbw to seal India’s fate. Ishant Sharma (0) and Mohammed Shami (8) fell quickly, and India were bowled out for 184 in 69.4 overs, falling 60 runs short. Moeen’s 4/71, Anderson’s 2/33, and Stokes’ 2/34 were crucial, with Curran’s 1/1 proving decisive. India’s innings included just 2 extras, reflecting England’s tight bowling. Despite Kohli and Rahane’s resilience, India couldn’t overcome England’s relentless attack, particularly Moeen’s spin, which exploited the wearing pitch to clinch the victory.