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

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

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)

MILAN (AP) — AC Milan didn’t let city rival Inter Milan open up too big a gap at the top of Serie A as it fought back to win 3-1 at in-form Como on Thursday, with Adrien Rabiot winning a penalty and then scoring two goals.

Inter had moved six points clear of Milan and Napoli with a 1-0 win over Lecce on Wednesday, coupled with Napoli’s frustrating draw against Parma.

Milan’s victory saw the Rossoneri cut the gap back to three points.

It didn’t start off so well for Massimiliano Allegri’s team, however.

Como — which was sixth in Serie A — got off to the perfect start when a corner was taken short and then floated in for Marc-Oliver Kempf to head the hosts into the lead in the 10th minute.

Como dominated but Milan leveled on the stroke of halftime when it was awarded a penalty after Rabiot was brought down by Kempf and Christopher Nkunku’s spot kick squirmed under the body of Jean Butez.

Milan turned the match around completely 10 minutes into the second half. Rafael Leão controlled a crossfield pass and then cut inside before lifting the ball over for Rabiot to chest down and volley across into the bottom right corner.

And Rabiot sealed the match shortly before full time when Niclas Füllkrug headed a ball back to the France midfielder and he drilled hard and low into the near corner.

Bologna ended a miserable run as it fought back to win 3-2 at relegation-threatened Hellas Verona in a match full of spectacular goals.

Bologna hadn’t won since November and got off to a poor start when it gave away the ball in the opposition penalty area and Antoine Bernède raced almost from box to box before laying it off for Gift Orban to fire home.

Riccardo Orsolini curled in an equalizer following a smart free kick and equally impressive goals from Jens Odgaard and Santiago Castro put Bologna 3-1 up at halftime.

Bologna midfielder Remo Marco Freuler accidentally turned a cross into his own net in the 71st minute.

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Verona's Gift Orban, left, celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Bologna in Verona, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15 , 2026. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)

Bologna's Santiago Castro (9), right, celebrates goal 1-3 during the Serie A soccer match between Hellas Verona and Bologna in Verona, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15 , 2026. (Paola Garbuio/LaPresse via AP)

Como's Marc-Oliver Kempf, center, celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan in Como, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

Como's Nico Paz, left, and AC Milan's Luka Modric in action during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan in Como, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)

AC Milan's Christopher Nkunku celebrates scoring during the Serie A soccer match between Como and Milan in Como, Italy, Thursday Jan. 15, 2026. (Antonio Saia/LaPresse via AP)