Having won the first test by successfully exceeding a goal of 371 in Leeds, England will try to win the last and with it the series by chasing 374 at the oval. If statisticians and bookmakers do not want their chances, the team themselves are not only confident but “refrigerated” on the task they face on the fourth day.
“It’s a Headingley replay,” said Josh Tongue. “It will be a great day of cricket and a beautiful day for us if we get the races. How we play as a striker is very positive and very exciting. The striker we have, I do not see why we cannot do a good try. We are refrigerated enough. Not much.
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In relation: England suffers from the late Zak Crawley Blow in the pursuit of 374 to win the fifth test and the India series
England scored 50 of them during the last session on Saturday before Mohammed Siraj launched Zak Crawley with the last ball of the day, giving tourists an elevator in their quest for a victory that would equalize the 2-2 series.
“We are really confident,” said their second Centurion, Yashasvi Jaiswal. “We just need to focus on our process and continue bowling in the right areas. This is what we think. There is always a movement in the counter, the swing movement and the sewing movement. It’s not that easy to beat. “
With Chris Woakes out of action due to the shoulder injury he suffered on the day of the opening, the three couturiers of England had to bear a disproportionate burden in the second rounds of India. Tongue took five counters in its 30 Overs to finish the series with 19 – the best total in England, and from only three games – while Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton played 27 and 22 respectively.
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“It was obviously going to be difficult for us, but I thought we are very well stuck there,” said Tongue. “I have the impression that sometimes I did not do myself as best as I could, especially the first day here, but I am obviously very dropped to get the counters.”
The 118 of Jaiswal was 19th A century of a series that has seen many extraordinary strikers, but the only one so far in this match, when he shared a partnership of 107 – once again the only one in this game to reach triple figures – with Nightwatchman of India, Akash Deep, which marked 66 and was, in the words of Tongue, “obviously frustrating”.
In relation: England has gone to Deep Funk by India Nightwatchman Akash, half an improbable half a century | Simon Burnton
“He played very well, playing photos and defending very well. I was just thinking of the way we can build the partnership as long as possible,” said Jaiswal. “So we appreciate that, and we were well.
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“It is very important to all of us that we continue to push ourselves and that it was our last round here. I had to continue to push. My mentality is always like that: think positive and opt for my photos – but if the situation requires something else, I will also take advantage of that.
