Resistant India Defy England To Keep Series Alive

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England's Ben Stokes shakes hands with India's Ravindra Jadeja after the match is drawn on Day 5 of the 4th Test at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday

IMAGE: England's Ben Stokes shakes hands with India's Ravindra Jadeja after the match is drawn on Day 5 of the 4th Test at Old Trafford in Manchester on Sunday. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images via Reuters

Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar and Shubman Gill struck fine hundreds as India secured a morale-boosting draw in the fourth Test at Old Trafford on Sunday.

The stalemate was achieved after Gill (103), Rahul (90), Jadeja (107 not out), and Washington (101 not out) fired with the bat on a fifth day pitch after India started their second innings 311 runs in arrears.

India's Ravindra Jadeja celebrates after reaching his century as Washington Sundar applauds

IMAGE: India's Ravindra Jadeja celebrates after reaching his century as Washington Sundar applauds. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images via Reuters

England lead the series 2-1 heading into the fifth and final Test.

India's Washington Sundar played with composure

IMAGE: India's Washington Sundar played with composure. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images via Reuters

Earlier, after being 0-2 early in their second innings, India continued to battle on to frustrate England on day five, the tourists doing everything possible to keep the series alive on 322-4 at tea.

Shubman Gill's courageous century added to England's woes in the morning session, before Washington Sundar and veteran Ravindra Jadeja both hit unbeaten half centuries after lunch to give India a second-innings lead of 11.

England's Ben Stokes looks frustrated

IMAGE: England's Ben Stokes looks frustrated. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images via Reuters

A tantalising, closely-contested series in which every Test has gone to the final day reached a crucial point as England targeted victory in the match that would seal series success with one fixture still to come.

England's Ben Stokes celebrates after taking the wicket of India's KL Rahul

IMAGE: England's Ben Stokes celebrates after taking the wicket of India's KL Rahul. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images via Reuters

England skipper Ben Stokes, who took five wickets in India's first innings but was not fit to bowl in the tourists' first 63 overs of their second on Saturday, brought himself into the attack on Sunday morning with India resuming on 174-2.

The move paid dividends as Stokes, still feeling the effects of several injuries, trapped KL Rahul leg before wicket for 90, ending the third-wicket partnership -- India having been 0-2 when Gill and Rahul came to the crease -- at 188.

India's Shubman Gill celebrates after reaching his century

IMAGE: India's Shubman Gill celebrates after reaching his century. Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images via Reuters

Gill remained undeterred, even after getting a nasty-looking blow on the hand, to move to his fourth century of the series. In his first as captain, the 25-year-old became only the third skipper to score four hundreds in a single Test series.

After almost seven hours at the crease, a tired-looking Gill wafted at a Jofra Archer delivery to fall just before lunch for 103. Jadeja was then dropped the very next ball by Joe Root but survived to return for the afternoon session.

Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar put on a 203-run partnership

IMAGE: Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar put on a 203-run partnership. Photograph: BCCI/X

Sundar moved along conservatively after lunch, with a draw India's only realistic target. He then hit successive boundaries, one a huge six, to move to his fifth Test half century, before Jadeja reached his latest milestone.

England looked short of ideas after struggling to cause India any afternoon problems. Sundar will resume on 57 after tea, Jadeja on 53.