Stokes hits century but India rallies to frustrate England's cricketers on 4th day of test

MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Ben Stokes hit another century. Chris Woakes was in sight of a hat trick before he'd even completed the first over of India's second innings. Day 4 of the fourth test at Old Trafford on Saturday certainly started with a bang.

So much so that by lunch, and with the visitors 1-2 and 310 runs behind, there seemed the genuine possibility that England could claim a series-clinching victory without the need of going to the final day.

But given the way this thrilling and feisty series has gone, India was never likely to go down without a fight.

The odds are still stacked against the visitors holding out for a draw in Manchester. However, through the stubborn stand of KL Rahul (87 not out) and Shubman Gill (78 not out), they were given hope of salvaging something from the test and the five-match series as a whole, which England leads 2-1.

India ended the day on 174-2 and trailing by 137 after frustrating the hosts, and with some rain forecast for Sunday, England may run out of time to seal a win that looked so likely earlier in the day.

“It was very frustrating. We expected to get a few more wickets after the first over of the day,” said England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick. “But they (India) batted very well, they stuck at it.”

Stokes scored his 14th test century as England ran up a 311-run innings lead to seemingly put it in complete control.

A score of 141 continued his brilliant all-round performance after taking five wickets in India's first innings.

With his ton, the 34-year-old England captain became his country's fourth player to get five wickets and a century in a test.

“He’s been working really hard and just trying to find the rhythm and get the feeling back of getting those big scores,” said Trescothick. “I think we saw a couple of shots this morning which were back to his best almost.”

Having resumed on 544-7, England was determined to pile the pressure on India, reaching 669 all out. And it was Stokes's spectacular batting that enthralled the crowd — scoring his first test century in two years, including three sixes. After reaching his century, he took off his helmet, looked up to the sky and then raised his bat to acknowledge the crowd.

He was eventually caught by Sai Sudharsan off Ravindra Jadeja, who finished the innings with four wickets.

The end of the morning session could hardly have gone worse for India.

Yashasvi Jaiswal went for a duck after just four balls, caught by Joe Root off Woakes. And Woakes immediately struck again, to give himself a chance of a hat trick, when Sudharsan went for a golden duck, caught by Harry Brook.

At 1-2 at lunch, it looked like being a painful rest of the day for India, but through Rahul and Gill it rallied to 86-2 at tea. A resilient second session included a fourth 50 of the series for Gill.

India grew in confidence as the partnership of the two leading run-scorers in the series looked immovable through the evening session, with Rahul emulating Gill by also reaching a fourth 50 of the series.

Stokes was brilliant with the bat but he was notable by his absence from the attack as England toiled with the ball.

Having retired hurt with cramp on Day 3, he opted against bowling, even as England struggled to come up with answers to stop India's rearguard action.

With a series-leading 16 wickets, Stokes may need to join the attack if the hosts are to dismiss India in time to claim victory.

“We're hoping that with another night’s rest and a bit more physio work overnight that he’ll be back and doing a bit tomorrow,” Trescothick said.

Should India hold on, it would head into the final test at the Oval with the chance of tying the series 2-2.

James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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India's KL Rahul plays a shot on the fourth day of the fourth cricket test match between England and India at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, England, July 26, 2025.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

England's Jofra Archer bowls a delivery on the fourth day of the fourth cricket test match between England and India at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, England, July 26, 2025.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

England's captain Ben Stokes celebrates after scoring a century on the fourth day of the fourth cricket test match between England and India at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, England, July 26, 2025.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

England's captain Ben Stokes run between the wickets to score during the fourth cricket test match between England and India at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, England, July 26, 2025.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

India's KL Rahul, left and India's captain Shubman Gill walk off during the lunch break on the fourth day of the fourth cricket test match between England and India at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, England, July 26, 2025.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

England's captain Ben Stokes celebrates after scoring a century on the fourth day of the fourth cricket test match between England and India at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, England, July 26, 2025.(AP Photo/Jon Super)

ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Muslim pilgrims from around the world congregated on Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the second official day of the annual Islamic pilgrimage, considered the pinnacle of the Hajj.

Despite the sweltering heat, the pilgrims gathered on the rocky hill and surrounding plain for intense prayers and worship that often mark a spiritual peak for them. They fervently murmured prayers and poured their hearts out in supplications. Many raised their hands in worship. It is common for pilgrims on that day, some with tears streaming down their faces, to ask God for forgiveness, mercy, blessings and good health.

The Hajj, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is required once in a lifetime for every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to perform it.

For pilgrims, the Hajj, performed over several days, can be a deeply moving spiritual experience and a chance to seek God’s forgiveness and the erasure of past sins. As they brave the intense heat to perform religious rituals, many pilgrims have been using umbrellas for shade.

A Saudi official said on Friday that more than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in the country from abroad.

This year, Muslims have been pouring into Saudi Arabia for the Hajj against the backdrop of a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war and related uncertainty in the region.

The U.S. military said Monday that it carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, including on missile launch sites and boats used to lay mines, even as President Donald Trump said on social media that negotiations with Tehran were “proceeding nicely." Iran on Tuesday denounced the most recent U.S. strikes as a sign of “bad faith and unreliability” as negotiations pressed on toward a possible deal to end the war.

For many, performing the Hajj can be a realization of a lifelong dream as they spend years hoping and praying to one day be able to undertake the pilgrimage or saving up money and waiting for a permit to embark on the trip.

“This happens once in a lifetime,” Mohammad Asal, an Egyptian pilgrim, said. “People here have prepared their prayers, hoping that God will respond to them, because we know that ... the most important ritual of the Hajj is being in Arafat.”

The Hajj brings together large numbers of Muslims of diverse races, ethnicities, languages and socioeconomic classes, creating a sense of unity for many. It’s a mass, communal experience, with Muslims performing rituals together. But it is also deeply personal, as every pilgrim brings their own yearnings and experiences.

“It was incredible,” Ahmed Sufyan, a pilgrim from the United States, said on Tuesday. “The unity and peace that we feel is something I’ve never experienced before,” he added via WhatsApp.

“Our wishes are many,” Mohammad Obaid, a Sudanese pilgrim, said, adding he was praying for Sudan and Muslims everywhere.

Fam reported from Winter Park, Florida.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

A Muslim pilgrim pray atop of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims walk towards the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims are silhouetted as they pray at top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims pray at top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims read a copy of Islam's holy book Quran atop of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)