Washington Sundar and Axar Patel
Washington Sundar was left stranded at 96 as India bulged their lead over England on Day 3 of the fourth and final Test of the series in Ahmedabad to 160 runs in the 1st innings. After centurion Rishabh Pant's departure, Sundar stuck in the middle with Axar Patel as the two all-rounders stitched a century stand to heap misery on England bowlers.
The stand Washington and Axar was only the second instance of two left-handers building a century partnership (eighth wicket or lower) for India. Previously in 2004, Irfan Pathan and Yuvraj Singh had stitched a 117-run stand against Pakistan in Lahore.
On the third day, he Washington-Axar pair added 50 runs in the first hour of the morning session.
Sundar remained stranded on 96 as India were all out for 365 in their first innings -- a crucial lead of 160 runs -- in reply to Englands 205 in the fourth and final Test here on Saturday.
Sundar faced 174 balls and hit 10 boundaries and one six, and remained unbeaten when the innings ended, missing what would have been his first Test century. For England, Ben Stokes took four wickets and James Anderson three.
Earlier on the second day, Rishabh Pant scored his third Test century to put India in a commanding position at the Motera wicket. Playing a typical counter-attacking knock, Pant hit 101 off 118 balls while Washington complimented him by scoring an unbeaten 60.
In the iconic Gabba Test against Australia, Sundar had added a 121-run stand for the seventh wicket with Shardul Thakur - the highest seventh-wicket stand by India in a Test match in Brisbane. Sundar had scored 62 which included 7 fours and a six, becoming only the third Indian to score a half-century on Test debut in Australia.
