India vs England, 2nd Test, Day 3 Shubman Gill’s third Test ton helps India set England a target of 399. England 67/1 at stumps and need another 332 runs to win: Session-wise Day 3 highlights.
Brief Scores: India 396 & 255 (Gill 104, Hartley 4/77) vs ENG 253 and 67/1 (Zak Crawley 29*, Ashwin 1/8)
India have set England a target of 399 after being bowled out for 255 in the second innings of the second Test at Vizag on Sunday, courtesy of a century from Shubman Gill. At stumps on the third day, England reached 67/1 and need another 332 runs to win and take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Talking point from India vs England, 2nd test, Day 3:
Gill roared back to form with his third Test century at Vizag. It was the biggest positive for India as India’s new No. 3 has finally broken the shackles of low scores. However, the rest of India’s batting line-up flattered to deceive as none of the other batters could make a score of fifty. A few players such as Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel got the starts, but could not build a big score.
India recover to reach 130/4 by lunch
India started the day at 28/0, with a lead of 171 runs, with both openers Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal starting the day with 13* and 15* respectively. However, the day began disastrously for India, with captain Rohit falling to the brilliance of veteran England bowler James Anderson. Rohit was bowled by Anderson in the second over of the day without adding to his overnight score of 13.
Jaiswal fell in Anderson’s next over as he edged it behind to Joe Root for 17. Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer then combined to put a stand of 81 runs with the former donning the attacking role to perfection. But Iyer once again threw a good start, miscuing an aerial shot to Ben Stokes who ran metres to complete a diving catch. Iyer fell in 20s again. Debutant Rajat Patidar didn’t last long as he under-edged a shot to Ben Foakes off Rehan Ahmed for 9. India went to lunch at 130/4 with Gill going strong on 60.
Read More: IND vs ENG, 2nd Test, Day 1: Yashasvi Jaiswal only shining light with 179*, India 336-6 at stumps
Gill scores a ton but falls to England's tactics
Post lunch, it was all about Shubman Gill and Axar Patel’s stand of 89 runs for the fifth wicket. Gill grew in confidence as he spent more time in the middle, and took on England spinners, and a special liking for Rehan Ahmed, striking the England bowler for two consecutive fours and a six. Gill broke his century drought, reaching his third Test ton, and his first since March 2023.
But he fell into a trap laid out by England captain Ben Stokes. Stokes left the third man region empty, and Gill attempted a reverse sweep the next ball in an attempt to collect a boundary in that vacant region, but the ball ballooned up, only to take an edge off his gloves to the keeper. Gill fell for 104 off Shoaib Bashir’s bowling. Axar played a good knock of 45 before he fell LBW to a ball that kept low off Hartley’s bowling. India went to tea at 227/6, with a lead of 368.
Read More: IND vs ENG, 2024: Do-or-die Test series awaits Gill; Patidar, Easwaran potential backups for no. 3
India set England a target of 399
India tailenders came out with an attacking game plan after tea to score some useful runs, but they failed to do so. KS Bharat fell pulling a short ball from Ahmed straight to Stokes at mid-on for 6. Kuldeep Yadav fell for a duck a few overs later, trying an aerial shot, but top-edged it to Ben Duckett off Hartley’s bowling.
A slow stand of 26 runs came off between R Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah who didn’t make a single run in the stand before edging to slip for a 26-ball duck. Ashwin fell next over, edging it behind as India folded for 255, setting a target of 399. In reply, England continued with the Bazball with openers Duckett and Crawley posting a quick stand of 50 in 11 overs before the former fell to Ashwin. England were 67/1 when the play was called off for the day.
The match is evenly poised with India needing 9 wickets to win and level the series 1-1. England need 332 more runs to win the Test and gain a 2-0 lead in the series. If Bazball is successful, England will go 2-0 up. However, chasing 399 on Indian pitches won’t be easy, and India spinners will have to play a big role on a pitch that has uneven bounce and some sharp turns.
Statistical Highlights from India vs England, 2nd test, Day 3:
Shubman Gill's 104 is the first century at number 3 for India in a home Test since Cheteshwar Pujara's 143 against Sri Lanka at Nagpur in November 2017.
Gill is the third India batter to score 10-plus centuries in international cricket before turning 25. Gill took 99 innings to reach the milestone. Sachin Tendulkar tops the list with 30 centuries in 273 innings and Virat Kohli is second with 21 tons in 163 innings before turning 25.
Gill's third Test century is also his first against England and second in India. This is also Gill's first ton since March 2023.
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