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India need 33 runs to win

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India v England: MS Dhoni run out on 99 as late wickets fall and England finish day three with their noses in front


Fourth Test, day three (stumps): India (297-8) trail England (330) by 33 runs








Breakthrough: England finally have something to celebrate Photo: RICHARD SWARBRICK






By Scyld Berry, in Nagpur

11:29AM GMT 15 Dec 2012


12 Comments




A fighting fifth-wicket stand of 198 between India’s captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli kept India in this series, without taking the fourth Test away from England.


At the close of the third day India were 297 for eight wickets and still 33 runs behind England on first innings on a pitch of unspeakable slowness.


Kohli, a class act, was due to come good as he had not gone beyond 20 in this series. He ground out his third Test century with the patience and application that had been missing from India’s batting in Kolkata and Mumbai.


Dhoni, however, missed out on his century thanks to some brilliant fielding from Alastair Cook. When Dhoni pushed to mid-off, Cook threw down the stumps and Dhoni was run out for 99. Having to run around James Anderson, the bowler in his followthrough, made all the difference.


If the pair of Kohli and Dhoni had batted through the whole day, India would have ended on top. As it was, England have a nose in front going into day four, if only because they won't have to bat last and chase a target to level the series.