Relentless Root and Bairstow swing fourth Test back in England's favour against India

A magnificent 150-run partnership by Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow put England on the brink of a sensational victory in the fourth Test against India at Edgbaston on Monday.

India had set the home side a daunting record run chase of 378 after being bowled out for 245 in their second innings, with first innings centurion Rishabh Pant top-scoring with 57 and England captain Ben Stokes finishing with four wickets.

Opening pair Alex Lees and Zak Crawley then provided the England reply with a solid base and a quick-fire century partnership. They reached the 100-mark inside 20 overs with Lees racing to a 44-ball fifty before Jasprit Bumrah intervened.

Crawley was in desperate need of an innings and had looked good right up until shouldering arms to a Bumrah ball that clipped the top of off stump when he was on 46, leaving England 107-1 just before tea.

A slight wobble was on the way with Nick Pope out immediately after tea for a three-ball duck, with Bumrah claiming another wicket, and Lees following after being run out woefully by teammate Root after a 65-ball 56. Three wickets in 16 balls and England were now 109-3.

So India smelt blood but the dynamic duo of Root and Bairstow was now at the crease. What followed has become refreshingly familiar for England fans this summer under the new attacking mindset of captain Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.

Root and Bairstow - finishing unbeaten on 76 and 72, respectively - combined in a 150-run stand for the unbroken fourth wicket to put England's chase back on track. Bairstow now has scores of 136, 162, 71 not out, 106 and 72 not out in his last three Tests.

Fair to say @jbairstow21 is seeing it big ⚽️Scorecard/Clips: https://t.co/jKoipF4U01