Root and Bairstow Heroics Help England Record Run Chase in Final Test

IND Vs ENG: The first part of the series that had only despaired in for England recited themselves in the second part with a record run chase of 378 against hopeless India and resume their new era domination under the Stokes-McCullum era. They registered a 7-wicket win over India to settle the series 2-2 at Edgbaston on Tuesday.

It can be registered as one of the finest performances by any team in the history of test cricket. The standing ovation for the performers of this match is, a man in red hot form Joe Root who slammed his 28^th test ton, and Jonny Bairstow, another man who is going through a golden patch went on to crack his 6^th test century this year.

Root and Bairstow’s record breaking alliance

Joe Root is managing some serious prowess currently with his fine run-in test cricket scoring his 11^th test century since Jan 2021 which is the highest in this period. He remained not out on 142* with 19 fours and a six in it.

In the partnership with Bairstow, Root added 269 runs for the fourth wicket and stole an improbable win from the jaws of India.

From 109/3, England won the show without further loss of a wicket in a 316-ball long association.

Jonny Bairstow completed his 12^th test century in the process of scoring 114* runs from 145 which comprised 15 fours and one six in it. He scored a century in the first innings as well.

How did 5^th day progress?

India had a slight chance of making some sort of comeback earlier in the day as the weather predicted the overcast condition and the lights were on from ball one. If somehow, they could have managed a couple of wickets in the first half an hour, it could have been something else for them.

But to the contrary, the English pair ensured no more fall of the wicket and the duo chased down the remaining target of 119 runs in nearly two hours of play.

Indian seamers didn’t look in the frame against the duo and, the 3^rd and 4^th bowlers, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur were leaking runs with more than 6 RPO.

The presence of Ravi Ashwin could have created an impact with respect to, how the pitch fared on the 4^th and 5^th days. Though, putting all the arguments aside, it was an impeccable show by Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow making the English team under Brendon McCullum inevitable.

The Limited overs series, starting from T20Is will commence on 7^th July and it will mark the return of regular skipper Rohit Sharma.