Pujara's epic century keeps Indian hopes alive

India's Cheteshwar Pujara hit his 15 Test century on Friday. (Reuters)

Cheteshwar Pujara struck a magnificent century to keep the momentum with India in the fourth Test against England after a burst of four wickets in 16 balls from Moeen Ali threatened to give the hosts the edge on day two. 
Finding support from tailenders Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, Pujara (132 not out, 257 balls, 16 fours) lifted the Indians from trouble at 195-8 by reaching his 15th Test century, and ended unbeaten on 132 in a total of 273 all out. 
That gave India a lead of 27 runs, and England openers Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings negotiated four tricky overs before stumps. 
England were 6-0, trailing by 21 runs, and a potentially series-defining match was finely balanced heading into the weekend. 
England lead the five-match series 2-1 after winning the first two Tests. 
Ali briefly gave England the initiative for the first time in the Test by taking four wickets in an inspired spell either side of the tea interval, including two in two balls to remove Ravichandran Ashwin and Mohammed Shami. That plunged India from 181-4 to 195-8. 
In snaffling Ishant Sharma, Ali got his five-wicket haul and had final figures of 5-63 off 16 overs. 
Earlier, Curran again proved his worth with the ball after starring with the bat by taking the prize wicket of India captain Virat Kohli.
At tea, India were 181 for five.
England's total owed much to the recalled Curran's Test-best 78, made after he had come in with the hosts in dire straits at 86 for six after India's pacemen had inflicted yet another top-order collapse.
India resumed Friday on 19 without loss.
James Anderson, England's all-time leading Test wicket-taker, needed six more wickets to equal retired Australia great Glenn McGrath's mark of 563 - the most taken by any fast bowler at this level.
But it was his longtime new-ball partner Sturt Broad who made the breakthrough to have KL Rahul lbw for 19.
And 37 for one became 50 for two when Broad drew India's other opener, left-hander Shikhar Dhawan, forward and diving wicket-keeper Jos Buttler took a good low two-handed catch. Dhawan departed for 23 runs.
Kohli's duels with Anderson have been a feature of the series and the India star frustrated the England great with a textbook cover-drive for four.
But after lunch, 20-year-old Surrey rising star Curran, in just his fourth Test, took the wicket England so badly wanted when the left-arm swing bowler angled a delivery across Kohli who, in a rare error, pushed out away from his body and saw the ensuing edge well caught low at first slip by Alastair Cook.
Kohli faced 71 balls, including six fours, and put on 92 with Pujara to leave India 142 for three.
Friday's innings saw Kohli, the world's top-ranked batsman reach 6,000 Test runs in his 119th innings at this level.

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