Sharma century puts India in control and sets up thrilling final day

Rohit Sharma scored a sublime century as India fought back to build a second innings lead and leave all three results possible going into day five at The Oval.

Two successive limp totals have threatened to derail the tourists’ series after taking a 1-0 lead at Lord’s, yet Sharma (127) responded in emphatic style to post his first Test century outside of India.

In all fairness to the 34-year-old, a ton has certainly been on the cards. He looked in good touch for scores of 86 and 59 in the last two matches and has averaged 52.6 across the series thus far.

You could almost sense that something promising was in the pipeline when Sharma stepped out of his crease to drive James Anderson back down the ground for four. It was an aesthetically pleasing shot that contained all principles of technique and a perfectly perpendicular bat.

KL Rahul also played well for a score of 46 with a number of aggressive strokes including a pull for six, but Anderson worked his magic to nip one off the seam and find the edge.

Any hope of the breakthrough forcing another Indian collapse would disintegrate as Cheteshwar Pujara (61) and Sharma combined for a partnership worth 153.

The foundation for Sharma’s innings was seeing off the new ball on the evening of day two, as he made his way to 50 with relative ease.

Whilst the difference from their first innings was commendable, conditions had changed in the batting side’s favour.

Sharma took a particular likening to Moeen Ali as he motored towards that evasive away century. Any hint of the “nervous nineties” was non-existent as he sent a huge hit over Moeen Ali’s head that went all the way for six to bring up 100. It was only right that a brilliant shot topped off a brilliant knock.

Ollie Robinson eventually would see get Sharma out with a top-edge to fine-leg when playing an attempted shot off the back foot as he has done on many an occasion.

Just five balls later, Robinson would dismiss Pujara too, who edged onto the thigh-pad before Moeen Ali took the catch in the slips. At 237-2, the experienced duo had done a more than sufficient job.

Virat Kohli (44) and Ravi Jadeja saw out the evening and went into day four trying to extend their side’s lead. Although, the latter would soon depart for LBW to Chris Woakes for 17 before the same event occurred to Ajinkya Rahane for an eighth ball duck.

Moeen Ali has developed a knack for dismissing Kohli in recent times and did the same again as the Indian skipper edged to Overton at slip.

Despite his magnificent innings, Sharma may not have been his team’s best batsman of the game. Following an enterprising first innings knock, Shardul Thakur scored 60 to significantly strengthen India’s chances of victory.

His personal highlight was a lofted drive off the bowling of Robinson that went all the way for six over mid-on. To Kohli’s satisfaction, Thakur was joined by Rishabh Pant (50) who has struggled for form recently but posted his first half-century since the final match of the reverse tour in March.

Thakur and Pant extended the lead by 100 prior to Joe Root dismissing the former, as Moeen Ali then caught Pant off his own bowling.

Even Jasprit Bumrah (24) and Umesh Yadav (25) contributed lower-order runs, as India finished with a total of 466. An impressive second innings score irrespective of the pitch and conditions.

With the eventual lead worth 368, Rory Burns (31*) and Haseeb Hameed (43*) did exactly what the nation would have asked of them and saw off the new ball to set up a thrilling chase on day five.

England go into the final day needing 291 to win with 10 wickets remaining.

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