India stared at an embarrassing defeat after Alastair Cook’s fairytale farewell knock and Joe Root’s classy hundred enabled England to pile more misery on the visitors during the fourth day of the fifth Test match at the Oval.
Cook made a dogged 147 off 286 balls in his final knock while skipper Root roared back to form with a stylish 125, his first hundred in 28 innings, as the duo grinded the Indian bowling into submission with 259-run stand.
Courtesy the twin hundreds by the former and current skipper, England declared their second innings on 423/8, leaving a massive target of 464 to chase for the Indians.
Deflated after fielding for over 112 overs, India’s wobbly top-order once again faltered with Shikhar Dhawan (1), Cheteshwar Pujara (0) and Virat Kohli (0) dismissed in quick succession, with day end score being 58 for 3.
With 406 runs required on the final day and seven wickets in hand, an embarrassing 1-4 series defeat looks imminent for India as of now.
Here is how Twitter reacted to the 4th day’s play:
What a fantastic final test innings! Test career started with a style and finished with grace! Big congratulations on a glorious career and wish you all the success on this new journey of your life! #AlastairCook #CookRetires pic.twitter.com/AuAki1a0gB
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) September 10, 2018
Take a bow Alastair Cook,quite a farewell.. #EngvInd
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) September 10, 2018
Like the clarity in Ajinkya's and specially Rahul's innings so far. Getting ready early in their set-up and hence the footwork. A little late in the series but better late than never #ENGvIND
— Deep Dasgupta (@DeepDasgupta7) September 10, 2018
A century in your last innings. And an ovation that looked like it would never end. It was, as Joe Root said, "written in the stars". What a moment for the mighty Alastair Cook.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 10, 2018
No, today’s play isn’t a reflection of how India played in this series. Played much better than this.
But let’s also accept that the scoreline will ‘rightly’ reflect where and how things went wrong…being delusional will only stall progress. #EngvInd— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) September 10, 2018
I’m so proud of Cookie today. The ovation said it all. Living legend. https://t.co/YaIggLeIpF
— Graeme Swann (@Swannyg66) September 10, 2018
100 on his debut and his last innings. What a way to make a mark. Thank you #AlastairCook #CookRetires #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/RLAqWrj8WF
— Dimuth Karunarathna (@IamDimuth) September 10, 2018
In his final Test, his 161st, Alastair Cook was standing at forward short leg. Need we say anything more about this man!🙏🙏🙏#AlastairCook
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) September 10, 2018
https://twitter.com/KP24/status/1039169891117555714
HE'S BIG
HE'S BAD
HE'S BETTER THAN HIS DAD
STUART BROAD
STUART BROAD 🔥🔥🔥— England's Barmy Army 🏴🎺 (@TheBarmyArmy) September 10, 2018
Kohli ends the series without being dismissed even once by Anderson #ENGvIND
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) September 10, 2018
Another big defeat coming up. 4-1 is not indicative of a competitive series. No point in saying it could have been the other way. It wasn't and clearly England played the big moments better. Serious problems with the top 3 in the batting . #ENGvIND
— Sumanth Raman (@sumanthraman) September 10, 2018
Man playing his first Test dismisses man playing his last Test #ENGvIND
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) September 10, 2018
Congratulations to Alastair Cook on his magnificent innings of 147 – a fitting end to a remarkable career. #ENGvIND
— Theresa May (@theresa_may) September 10, 2018
What Ravi Shastri said, "This is the best touring side from India in the last 15 years".#ENGvIND
What Ravi Shastri meant: pic.twitter.com/hUCrd1PRoI
— RS (@AwaraRish) September 10, 2018
"What do you see in current India team which u never saw?"
Shastri: Unity! See the unity.. Dhawan getting out cheaply just to make Vijay feel that his place isn't completely in danger. We maintain the bro code. #EngvInd
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) September 10, 2018
Don't Be Angry Guys. Soon Team India Will Organise A Series With Sri Lanka And Our Batsmen And Coach Will Show What They're Capable Of. #INDvsENG #INDvENG #ENGvIND #INDvENG
— Sir Jadeja fan (@SirJadeja) September 10, 2018
