India vs England, 1st Test, Day 3: Ollie Pope 148* puts England back in the game, visitors 126 runs ahead. Session-wise day 3 highlights.
Brief Scores: ENG 316/6 (Pope 148*, Bumrah 2/29) & 246 lead IND 436 (Jadeja 87, Rahul 86, Root 4/79) by 126 runs at Stumps on Day 3.
England returned well in the Test with belief and right application in their batting department. Ollie Pope (148*) led them from the front with the bat. Their lead of 126 runs ensured they would have a great chance against the hosts in the fourth innings of the Test.
India was ahead in the game coming into the third Day of the first Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad, with a lead of 175 runs.
Talking point: Pope led England’s positive approach to batting
England were not timid in the second innings with the bat. They showed the same intent and positiveness in batting, but their application in the department was far better compared to the first innings. Pope led the charge as he found the gaps, milked the boundaries, and singled against all the bowlers to give England a valuable and healthy lead.
England bowled out India for 436, India lead by 190 runs
England had a terrific start on the third day with the ball in hand. Surprisingly, the overnight batters Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel entered their shell. Jadeja (87) missed out on his century when he was adjusted leg before the stumps against England’s best spinner of the game, Joe Root, who looked threatening in the morning. Axar (44) was the last man to be dismissed, as India was bundled out for 436, with a lead of 190 runs.
Aggressive England raced away to 89/1, trailing by 101 runs
England batted with a positive and aggressive approach against the spinners. Both their openers showed intent as Ben Duckett looked to take on Axar Patel, sweeping him for so many boundaries. Ravichandran Ashwin finally drew the first blood as he found the outside edge of Zak Crawley (31). But that wicket hardly made any difference as the visitors reached 89/1 at lunch, trailing by 101 runs.
Read More: IND vs ENG, 1st Test, Day 1: India spinners trump Bazball, restrict England to 246; India 119-1
India kept taking regular wickets, as England jogged to 172/5 at Tea, trailing by 18 runs
India started the middle session with success, as Jasprit Bumrah broke the stumps of Duckett before trapping Root before the stumps. England kept batting with their ‘Bazball’ approach, led by Ollie Pope, who looked good against the pacers and spinners.
A straight delivery from Jadeja undid Jonny Bairstow, while Ben Stokes became the 495th Test victim of Ashwin. India managed the session well, with variable field placement and the right change of bowlers. England jogged their way to 172/5 at Tea, still trailing by 18 runs.
Pope’s special 148* sprints England to 316/6, leading by 126 runs
In the third session, Ben Foakes and Pope continued with the same intent, as the India bowlers looked tired and clueless. Pope brought up his fifth Test century as the duo made 112 runs for the sixth wicket partnership. Axar finally gave India the wicket of Foakes (34) with a ball that stayed low and crashed into the stumps.
Pope continued with his special innings, as the lead grew with every over. India was feeling the pressure. After being dropped on 110 by Axar, Pope remained uneaten on 148 to take England to 316/6 at stumps, with a lead of 126 runs.
Read More: England series crucial for India for a place in ICC World Test Championship 2023-25 Final
What’s to come
England will look to add more to their lead of 126 runs. Anything over 200 in the fourth inning will offer a great chance to go 1-0 up in the series. India will look to restrict them with a lead of around 170-180.
Statistical highlights from the India vs England, 1st Test, Day 3
4/79 is now Joe Root’s second-best bowling figure in Test matches.
Root now has the most runs (2557) against India in Tests, going past Ricky Ponting (2555) at an average of 26.88.
Bumrah has dismissed Root seven times in tests.
Ashwin is now the joint second-highest wicket-taker with 93 Test scalps for India against England.
Ashwin has dismissed Stokes 12 times in Tests at an average of 21.1.
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