England’s all-rounder Moeen Ali feels chasing a target in the range of 220-230 wouldn’t be impossible but it won’t be easy for the hosts.
After stumps on Day 4, India were leading by 154 runs and had four wickets in hand. Rishabh Pant is going to hold the key for the visitors as he is batting unbeaten on 14 runs.
India will be delighted if they can add another 100 runs on the fifth day but the tourists have a long tail and Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj and Jasprit Bumrah will need to provide support to Rishabh Pant.
In fact, Indian tailenders had done a good job in the first innings of the Trent Bridge Test but they could not deliver in the first innings of the Lord’s Test. On the other hand, England will aim to keep the lead under 200, which will make the job of their batsman easier.
The pitch is also providing assistance to the spinners as Moeen Ali scalped two wickets but India is not playing Ravichandran Ashwin, who could have been lethal on Day 5.
Moeen Ali said while talking to Daily Mail, “That wouldn’t be impossible. but it won’t be easy. We’ll have to play well. It’s a fantastic game.”
Ali is playing Test cricket in home conditions after a long gap of two years as he last played in Ashes 2019 and stated he is enjoying the challenge.
“I’ve really enjoyed it so far. That was my aim. It wasn’t the runs or the wickets so much, although they helped; it was more about enjoying the challenge as much as I could. I’m happy with everything and not taking it too seriously any more. That’s something that I probably moved away from going back a couple of years ago.”
Ali further said: “I know that I had that one bad game against Australia in 2019, but before that I was doing well. So I’m all good with everything.”
On the other hand, Mark Wood bowled at express pace and provided the crucial wickets of Indian openers, who both are in sublime form. Ali added that Wood deserved the wickets and he is pleased for him.
“I’m very pleased for Woody. He was telling me after the first innings that he doesn’t get the wickets he would like. But he fully deserved the wickets today, and Pujara was massive. The way Mark ran in and banged a dead pitch with a soft ball — I thought he was fantastic.”
