England face tough test to salvage second Test draw against India after two late dismissals

India secured a sizable confidence boost in their quest for a second Test victory over England in Visakhapatnam by removing Alastair Cook in the final over of action on the penultimate day (20 November).

The visiting captain had gone on to make 54 after a gutsy innings from 19-year-old opening partner Haseeb Hameed was ended by Ravichandran Ashwin, but he did not manage to see out the final six deliveries after failing to overturn an lbw decision brought about by Ravindra Jadeja.

England still require 318 more runs after being set a target of 405 when India were bowled all out for 204 in the afternoon. Resuming on 98/3 with a healthy lead of 298, the hosts, who survived a late scare in the opening contest to seal a draw, lost Ajinkya Rahane early on when Cook took a catch off Stuart Broad at slip.

The Nottinghamshire paceman then removed his fourth victim when Ashwin nicked one through to wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow.

India's last seven wickets fell for a total of just 87 runs. Wriddhiman Saha was quickly dispatched by Moeen Ali, who also claimed the final dismissal of Mohammed Shami following a first-ball stumping by Bairstow.

That came after fellow spinner Adil Rashid had ended Virat Kohli's impressive knock at 81 courtesy of a brilliant one-handed catch from Ben Stokes. He also had Jadeja caught by Moeen at deep mid-wicket and Umesh Yadav taken by Bairstow for a duck.

That left England with a mountain to climb on an unpredictable pitch, but they made a steady start and reached tea on 40 without loss. Their opening-wicket stand of 75 came from 50 overs and 302 balls, with Hameed and Cook demonstrating fine patience and temperament.

Their late dismissals will come as an enormous blow to the tourists' chances of salvaging an unlikely tie and heading to Mohali next weekend with the five-match series still level at 0-0.

"It was a bit of a shame but I think that if you'd offered us two down after 60 overs on the afternoon on day four on this pitch, we'd have taken it," Broad told Sky Sports after stumps. "We've still got a lot to work with tomorrow. The way the openers played was spectacular – they were calm and collected. If we can do the same tomorrow, we've got a chance of saving this game."