Gill-inspired India leave England facing defeat

Second Rothesay Test, Edgbaston (day four of five)

India 587 & 427-6 dec: Gill 161, Jadeja 69*; Tongue 2-93

England 407 & 72-3: Pope 24*, Deep 2-36

England need 536 more runs to win

Scorecard

England lost three top-order wickets before the close as India surged towards victory in the second Test after their captain Shubman Gill's run-fest continued at Edgbaston.

Faced with the choice of batting for a draw or going after a chase of a near-impossible 608, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett and Joe Root all fell to leave the hosts 72-3 at the end of day four.

Crawley played a wild drive in the second over to be caught for a duck and Duckett hit five boundaries before being bowled by Akash Deep for a 15-ball 25.

The electric Deep, who has thrilled with the new-ball in his first Test in England, then struck the crucial blow by sensationally bowling Root for six.

England had been kept in the field until 90 minutes before the finish as Gill followed his epic 269 in the first innings with a dismissive 161 which allowed India to declare on 427-6.

He is the first player to record scores in excess of 250 and 150 in the same Test while his overall haul of 430 this week is the second-highest in Test history.

Despite the forecast of morning rain, Gill's side are now overwhelming favourites to secure the win on day five that would level this series at 1-1.

England, meanwhile, have an intriguing day ahead. That they do not play for draws has been one of the pillars of their cricket under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.

But now, for the first time under this regime, they are faced with a situation where a successful chase is almost certainly out of the question.

They have made 378, 373, 299, 296, 279 in the fourth innings to win under Stokes but the highest chase in Test history is 418.

That leaves the draw as their most likely way of preserving their series lead going to Lord's next week.

Gill's declaration came later than it could have – perhaps fearing England's ability to chase – but the tourists have still left themselves the option of the new ball after tea on day four.

While that weapon allowed Deep to find significant movement late on, when the ball has gone soft batting has looked far easier.

England's tactics may be even more interesting than the eventual result.