English batter Joe Root brought up a fighting ton to bail his side out of trouble after the visitors had lost three early wickets in the fourth Test against India in Ranchi.
Root came out to bat as England were reeling at 47 runs for the loss of 2 wickets early in the day and navigated the challenges well to get to his century mark.
The experienced batsman, who has only managed scores of 29, 2, 5, 16, 18, and 7 in the first three games of the series, went back to his roots as he came up with a gritty innings to bring up a patient ton.
England won the toss and opted to have a bat first as the Indian bowling unit struck early. Debutant Akash Deep dismissed English opener Ben Duckett after he had made 11 runs as he was caught behind by Dhruv Jurel.
The 27-year-old bowler snapped up yet another wicket in the very same over as he sent Ollie Pope back to the hut for a duck. The young bowler picked up his third wicket of the day with the dismissal of Zak Crawley, who played a run-a-ball 42-run innings.
When England looked all at bay as they lost three early wickets, the partnership between Root and Jonny Bairstow helped England past the triple-digit mark before the latter was scalped for 38 runs by spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who trapped him plump in front of the wicket.
England skipper Ben Stokes did not last long at the crease as Ravindra Jadeja ensured that the left-handed batter would depart from the middle without having cause too much trouble as he was sent back for 3 runs.
Root then established a 113-run stand alongside Ben Foakes, who kept him company at the crease as England went past the 200-run mark. Indian pacer Mohammed Siraj broke the resistance as he got the wicket of Foakes, who had made 47 runs for his side’s cause, before the seamer castled Tom Hartley to reduce England to seven wicket.
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