Virat Kohli was front and centre of the action in the field once again overnight, but his rowdy post-wicket celebrations were quickly made to look foolish by a superb English middle order.
This series, and match in particular, between England and India has been spicy – with Kohli relishing the role of villain repeatedly.
Already during the Test he was called ‘insufferable’ when he blew a kiss to Jonny Bairstow upon the batter’s dismissal, and again on day four of the fifth Test in Birmingham he couldn’t keep his emotions in check following a big wicket.
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Kohli and English opener Alex Lees had engaged in some fierce discussions as the teams walked off for the tea break, and when Lees was run out for 56, the Indian superstar sprinted around the field like a madman, as though he’d scored the winning goal in a World Cup final.
The reaction was described as “utterly berserk” by Wisden editor Lawrence Booth.
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It would be the last moment of joy that India would have on the day, as Bairstow joined captain Joe Root at the crease and the pair quickly made a seemingly-insurmountable target look like child’s play.
Both ended the day unbeaten – Root on 76, Bairstow on 72 – and England will return to a sold-out Edgbaston on the final day needing only another 119 runs, with seven wickets in hand.
A win here would level the sides at two Tests apiece, and would leave the visitors wondering how they let this match – and the series – slip through their hands.
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