Mumbai Test: India inch closer to victory post Kohli's third double ton

Mumbai [India], Dec.11 (ANI): Skipper Virat Kohli smacked his third double century of the year before spinners came to fore as India continued to maintain a complete stranglehold over England at stumps on fourth day of the fourth Test at the Wankhede Stadium here on Sunday. India dominated England in all departments and are now on the verge of clinching the match on the final day. After India piled 631 runs in the first innings in reply to England's 400, the home side enjoyed a healthy lead of 231 runs. All eyes were on the two left-handed openers Alastair Cook and Keaton Jennings, who had scored a ton in the first innings on debut. However, Jennings failed to replicate his good performance and got dismissed for a duck, giving England the worst start imaginable. England then lost Cook for 18 runs before Joe Root (77) joined forces with Johnny Bairstow (unbeaten at 50) and shared a 92-run stand for the fourth wicket to keep his side in the game. At the close of day four's play, England were at 182-6 and still trailing by 49 runs. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja picked two wickets each while Jayant Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar chipped in with a wicket each. Earlier, resuming at yesterday's score of 451-7, Kohli continued his tour-de-force against England as he smashed a brilliant 212-run knock to become the first Indian skipper to score three double-tons in a year. It was Kohli's first double century in Tests against England. He reached the milestone in 302 balls with 23 fours but no sixes. Kohli was ably supported by Jayant (104), who not also brought his maiden Test century but also shared a huge 241-run partnership with the former for the eighth wicket. Jayant also became the first individual to score a century at the number nine spot.(ANI)