Watch: Ajinkya Rahane Goes For Duck As Chris Woakes Storms England Back In The Game
Watch: Ajinkya Rahane Goes For Duck As Chris Woakes Storms England Back In The Game

Chris Woakes has been an absolute menace in the fourth Test match against India at The Oval; well, he is an exceptional exponent in English conditions, anyway. The seam-bowling all-rounder has single-handedly brought England back in the game on Day 4 with two quick strikes in the first session, accounting for the wickets of Ravindra Jadeja and Ajinkya Rahane, both lbw.

The latter, in particular, continues his concerning form as he departed for a duck. Chris Woakes angled an in-swinger towards Rahane – the ball went on with the angle, beating the batsman as he tried to work it away on the leg side, and it hit him on his knee roll.

It was plumb. Three reds, as it showed moments later. Umpire Alex Wharf knew it as he quickly raised his finger without any hesitation; non-striker Virat Kohli knew it as he suggested Rahane against the review, and the Indian vice-captain walked back for an 8-ball duck.

Ajinkya Rahane
Ajinkya Rahane. Image-Twitter

It was a brilliant setup from Chris Woakes too: just before the wicket delivery, he had moved Rahane a little on the off-side with one moving away outside off; the next one, angled straight in and hitting the stumps.

Watch: Chris Woakes sends back Ajinkya Rahane for a duck

This has now left India in a pickle: they have slipped from 236/1 to 296/5. The lead is closing in on 200, but with the history of the venue, the flat pitch, batting-friendly conditions – a target of anything less than 300 won’t both the hosts.

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Chris Woakes
Chris Woakes (Credits: Getty)

Before dismissing Rahane, Chris Woakes had got rid of Jadeja – having hit his pads too with a straightener as Jadeja and Kohli’s partnership was building up. It was Woakes, playing his first Test match in over a year, who extended England’s lead to 99 with a fifty, after he had taken four wickets in India’s first innings.

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