England struggle to reach 182/6 at stumps on Day Four

Mumbai, Dec 11 (IANS) England were on the brink of defeat, reduced to 182/6 in their second innings and still trailing by 49 runs, against India at stumps on the fourth day of the fourth cricket Test here on Sunday.

England skipper Alastair Cook (18), debutant and first innings centurion Keaton Jennings (0), Moeen Ali (0), Joe Root (77), Ben Stokes (18) and Jake Ball (2) were dismissed -- five by Indian spinners. Jonny Bairstow was unbeaten on 50.

The day's action stopped when Ball was out in the 48th over of England's second innings.

England posted 400 in their first innings.

India pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1-11) dismissed Jennings in the very first over of England's second innings to start their slide.

Their grief deepened when left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja (2-58) accounted for both Cook and Moeen Ali to leave India in a very strong position. Jayant Yadav (1-39) took the prized scalp of Root while star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin (2-49) inflicted further damage to push England into the corner.

Earlier in the day, India skipper Virat Kohli (235) scored his third double-century of the year and, together with Jayant Yadav (104), helped the hosts amass a huge first innings score of 631 runs.

--IANS

sam/dg