As the highly anticipated fourth Test between India and England unfolded at Manchester's Old Trafford on July 23, 2025, cricket enthusiasts were treated to a closely contested match with momentum swings and individual brilliance. England, who dominated Day 2 with a ruthless batting performance, were poised to overtake India's first innings score of 358 as play resumed on Day 3. The morning belonged to the hosts courtesy largely of the unbroken stand between Joe Root and Ollie Pope. But, just as England were in danger of taking complete control, Washington Sundar produced a piece of magic that sparked new life into India's chances. England started Day 3 on 225/2, 133 behind, and immediately launched an attack under clear blue skies. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett's platform facilitated Pope and Root to build gradually, their strategy just as measured as they were forceful. India's bowling, bereft of penetration, found it hard to generate possibilities. Also Read | Watch: Father-Son Battle as Nabi Gets Hit for Six by Hassan Eisakhil Even smaller chances such as a missed run-out and a dropped catch for Pope passed them by, adding to India's irritation. Both Pope and Root had already cruised past their half-centuries by lunch, the third-wicket partnership ballooning past 130. England went past 300 comfortably with 107 runs from the first wicketless session and reduced India's lead to merely 26 by lunch. Root, ever the master, not only propped up the overall score but also created a personal milestone, becoming the first player to reach 1,000 Test runs at Old Trafford and rising to third on the venue's all-time run-scorers' list. But the script was turned early in the second session. On 341/2, India needed a spark desperately. It came through Washington Sundar. Before the second new ball, Sundar employed deft drift to tempt Pope into a wrong shot flicking at an off-stump line, Pope's edge carrying low to KL Rahul at slip, who didn't make any mistake Pope's nicely crafted 71 off 128 balls came to an end, the break preventing England's charge and splitting open an end just when India most needed. Watch here: #WashingtonSundar to the rescue! 😎A timely breakthrough as he dismisses the well-set #OlliePope.#ENGvIND 👉 4th TEST, DAY 3 | LIVE NOW on JioHotstar 👉 https://t.co/l55AM1kN1p pic.twitter.com/uieVv9b4Hp — Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) July 25, 2025