Rahul and Gill frustrate England in fourth Test after Stokes century

Gill came in with India in dire straits at 0-2 after Chris Woakes struck with successive balls in the first over of the tourists' second innings to have both Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan caught in the slips for ducks.

That left India more than 300 runs behind England's mammoth first-innings 669 all out, featuring Stokes' superb 141.

But an engrossing series of several twists and turns produced another as India reached stumps on the fourth day without further loss at 174-2.

KL Rahul was 87 not out and Gill 78 not out after the stubborn duo defied England's toiling bowlers for nearly five hours at an increasingly sun-drenched Old Trafford.

India still face a deficit of 137 runs but have renewed hope of leaving Manchester with what would be a commendable draw after England, already 2-1 up in this five-match series, compiled their fifth-highest Test total of all time.

It was a return to form for Gill, who had started his first series as India skipper with three hundreds in four innings, only to manage 34 runs in total in his last three knocks.

"We thought we could get a few more wickets after the start... but it was not to be," England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick told Sky Sports.

"They (Rahul and Gill) stuck at it well," the former England opener added.
No bowling for Stokes
Stokes did not bowl himself Saturday -- a concerning sign for England following his history of hamstring trouble -- after taking an excellent 5-72 in India's first-innings 358.

Trescothick, asked if Stokes, the pick of England's attack this series, would bowl again in the match, replied: "We are waiting to see.

"He is obviously stiff and sore, has had a big workload in the last few weeks and again in this game and had a bit of cramp while he was batting mainly yesterday (Friday)."

In Stokes's absence, England's bowlers lacked penetration after Woakes' double strike, with recalled spinner Liam Dawson rarely turning the ball.

But the second ball after lunch saw Gill, still on nought, survive an impassioned lbw appeal from fast bowler Jofra Archer.

England's review proved inconclusive over whether the ball had hit bat or pad first and the original not out decision was upheld.

Gill had made two when Archer had another lbw appeal rejected, with the express quick down on his haunches in disbelief.

The 25-year-old Gill then hit back with two boundaries in three balls from Woakes -- a dashing cut followed by a textbook straight drive.

But he might have been out for 46 when an edge off Brydon Carse flew high to point only for Dawson to drop a two-handed chance.

Rahul mainly repelled England with sound defence, hitting just eight fours in 210 balls.

But the obdurate opener attacked when Archer strayed in direction with an elegant late cut and forceful pull.
Stokes hits out
England resumed in command at 544-7 after Joe Root had become the second-highest run-scorer in Test history during his majestic 150 on Friday.

Stokes, 77 not out overnight, delighted Saturday's large crowd with yet more thrilling stroke-play before completing a 164-ball hundred with a leg-glanced four off Jasprit Bumrah.

It was Stokes's first Test century in more than two years following a whirlwind 155 against Australia at Lord's in June 2023.

The 34-year-old celebrated his 14th hundred in 115 Tests by clenching his fist, looking to the sky and making a crooked finger gesture in honour of his late father Ged before raising his bat.

His century meant Stokes became just the fourth England player to take five wickets and score a hundred in the same Test after Tony Greig, Ian Botham -- who did it five times -- and the currently sidelined Gus Atkinson.

With the shackles off, left-handed batsman Stokes hit out.

But one ball after launching left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja for six, he holed out off the all-rounder, with England exactly 300 runs ahead at 658-9.