Stokes and Smith dig in as England battle for unlikely draw

BBC News

9 hours ago

Update:
Date: 14:28 BST
Title: Post
Content: Steven FinnFormer England fast bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
England are just playing the situation, there's nothing reckless about what they've done, it's all been calculated. Obviously they have played some shots but they've been the right ones and that's what's important.
Update:
Date: 39 overs
Title: Eng 153-5
Content: Target 608
Shubman Gill has chucked the ball to Washington Sundar.
Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith pick up a single each.
We'll probably have one over before lunch. Although it is Ravindra Jadeja, so this could be a swift one.
Update:
Date: 38 overs
Title: Eng 151-5
Content: England need 457 runs
I really like that analogy, Vineet.
Ben Stokes has started sweeping Ravindra Jadeja. 150 up for England.
Update:
Date: 14:22 BST
Title: Get Involved
Content: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
Gill can afford to be a bit more extravagant with his fields. He is a millionaire right now with the runs he has got in his bank but behaving stingy for some reason.
Vineet
Update:
Date: 14:21 BST
Title: Post
Content: Matthew HenryBBC Sport journalist at Edgbaston
Shubman Gill has two slips for Ben Stokes but there's no other fielders within what you'd call the 30-yard circle in white-ball cricket. Is he trying to tempt the England captain?
Update:
Date: 14:21 BST
Title: Post
Content: Jonathan AgnewBBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special
Every team needs a Mohammed Siraj. Not just for the effort and energy but for the entertainment.
Update:
Date: 37 overs
Title: Eng 146-5
Content: Target 608
Mohammed Siraj is chunnering away to himself in between deliveries. He glares at Ben Stokes a few times and tosses the ball towards the stumps for good measure. Stokes looks at him dismissively.
I think I'd like to see Akash Deep brought back for an over before lunch.
Update:
Date: 14:16 BST
Title: Get Involved
Content: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
Jon Evans: I don't understand the big criticisms of Bazball really. We are playing a top team, we will win some and lose some. Prior to Bazball we struggled to break 400 in an innings. Certainly wouldn't have believed we could chase 378 in the second innings to win.
Update:
Date: 14:16 BST
Title: Post
Content: Steven FinnFormer England fast bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
Ravindra Jadeja goes so quickly through his over, he gives you no time to think about what you're doing. He's so accurate every time as well, he's finding the foot holes every single time.
Update:
Date: 36 overs
Title: Eng 142-5
Content: Target 608
This video can not be played
Smith hits Jadeja for four
60 overs remaining in day five. India need five wickets to level the series.
Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith have put on 59 (89) for the sixth wicket.
Update:
Date: 14:12 BST
Title: Post
Content: Steven FinnFormer England fast bowler on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
I think that we can safely say that England are playing the correct way. We were worried that they'd come out and the wickets would rattle before lunch but they've come out and played the game. They've never been in this position before.
Update:
Date: 14:12 BST
Title: Post
Content: Jonathan AgnewBBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special
This has been an expensive over for Mohammed Siraj.
Update:
Date: 14:12 BST
Title: How's stat?!
Content: Ashwanth R KavuluriCricviz analyst
England's attacking shot percentage for this innings is 22% — their lowest in 70 innings since the start of the Bazball era, in innings where they batted a minimum of 30 overs.
Update:
Date: 34 overs
Title: Eng 133-5
Content: England need 475 runs
Farewell 123-5. Jamie Smith runs a single to restart the scoreboard and Ben Stokes follows it with a four.
The next ball is called wide - Mohammed Siraj is not amused - and Stokes rubs salt in the wound by smacking him for another four.
Update:
Date: 14:08 BST
Title: Get Involved
Content: #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)
Stokes having a nightmare against Jadeja and the rough outside his off stump. He must be cursing the person who won the toss and chose to bowl first.
Michael Conway
Update:
Date: 14:07 BST
Title: Post
Content: Jonathan AgnewBBC Chief Cricket Commentator on Test Match Special
The ball is doing some funny things when it comes out of the rough and Ravindra Jadeja is hitting it every time. Ben Stokes is going to have to be selective with what he plays.
Update:
Date: 34 overs
Title: Eng 123-5
Content: England need 485 runs
England haven't scored off the past 14 deliveries. At least it gives me more time to enjoy the 123-5 scoreline.
Update:
Date: 33.2 overs
Title: Eng 123-5
Content: That was close!
Rishabh Pant is up to the stumps, India have crowded three fielders around the bat, and the ball drops just short of Shubman Gill in the slips. A scare for Ben Stokes.
Update:
Date: 14:03 BST
Title: Post
Content: Matthew HenryBBC Sport journalist at Edgbaston
England didn't lose a wicket between the 30th and 80th over in their first innings. Only one wicket fell in that period in India's second innings and that was Rishabh Pant having a slog.
Update:
Date: 14:03 BST
Title: Post
Content: Cheteshwar PujaraFormer India batter on BBC Test Match Special
I think India need to bring someone closer in. They have runs to play with and still aren't playing attacking enough for my liking.