Chennai (India) (AFP) – Batsman Karun Nair hit an unbeaten 195 to help India build a commanding lead over England on the fourth day of the fifth and final Test in Chennai on Monday.
India, who resumed the day on 391-4, advanced to 582 for five at tea with Nair and Ravichandran Ashwin (54) in cruise control at the crease.
The hosts lead England’s first innings score of 477 by 105 runs going into the penultimate day’s final session.
Nair — who recorded his maiden Test century during Monday’s first session — and Ashwin have put on an unbeaten 147 runs for the sixth wicket to frustrate England’s bowling attack.
Ashwin, who posted his 10th Test half-century, was trapped lbw by medium-pacer Keaton Jennings just before the break only to successfully challenge the ruling using the Decision Review System.
Nair, 25, who is playing in only his third Test after making his debut earlier in the series, started patiently but changed gears after reaching the 150-run mark.
He put on 63 runs for the fifth wicket with Murali Vijay (29) before debutant Liam Dawson got his first Test scalp with his left-arm spin in the morning session.
All-rounder Dawson, who scored an unbeaten 66 in England’s first innings, pinned Vijay in front of his stumps and he was given out lbw.
England skipper Alastair Cook’s tactic of rotating his bowlers on a flat pitch at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium restricted India to just 72 runs in the first session but the Indian batsmen stepped on the gas after lunch.
The hosts added 119 runs in the afternoon session as England bowled 30 overs without getting a single wicket.
India have already secured the series with a 3-0 lead.
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