Staff Reporter.
England lost the key wicket of Joe Root late on a dramatic first day to leave the fourth Test with India finely balanced at the Kia Oval.
Root was bowled by Umesh Yadav for 21 to leave the hosts 53-3 after they had bowled India out for 191
Opting to bowl on winning the toss, England exploited the assistance on offer, Chris Woakes taking 4-55 in his first Test in more than a year and Ollie Robinson continuing a super start to his international career with 3-38.
Despite 50 from captain Virat Kohli, India found themselves 127-7, only for Shardul Thakur to crash a 31-ball half-century, the fastest in Test cricket in England.
India lost their last three wickets in four balls, then reduced England to 6-2 – Rory Burns fell for five and Haseeb Hameed nought, both to Jasprit Bumrah.
Root and Dawid Malan looked to have weathered the storm, only for Umesh to trim the bails and send captain Root on his way for 21.
It left nightwatchman Craig Overton to see England to the close alongside Malan, who is unbeaten on 26.
This has been a fluctuating series, the nature of which was reflected on a chaotic and, at times, bizarre opening day.
India once again ignored the 413 Test wickets of Ravichandran Ashwin and promoted Ravindra Jadeja to number five in the batting order.
Even though England worked their way through the India batting, they still dropped four catches and were flayed by Thakur.
When Burns played on to his own stumps and Hameed loosely edged a cut in the same over, there was a real danger of India wreaking havoc in the final hour.
As ever, Root was a reassuring presence, and the 46 he added with Malan looked to have England in control.
Umesh, though, hurried a nip-backer between the captain’s bat and pad, giving India an opening to exploit on Friday morning.