Ollie Pope’s scintillating 148 not out has given England big hope of turning this Test match around.
India began Day 3 on 421-7, with a first-innings lead of 175, Ravindra Jadeja, who was 81 not out, along with Axar Patel, who was 35 unbeaten, were looking to drive home the advantage to keep England out of the game, while the tourists, were looking to get back into it.
Patel started the day with two exquisite cover drives off Jack Leach.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut Joe Root gave England the crucial wicket of Jadeja, who departed for 87, at 436-8.
Embed from Getty ImagesAnd he made in two-in-two by comprehensively bowling Jasprit Bumrah at 436.9.
Embed from Getty ImagesRehan Ahmed wrapped up India’s first innings of 436, by claiming the wicket of Axar Patel for 44. It was a good fightback from the England bowler who at one stage looked like conceding a`huge first innings lead.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhile 189 looked like a formidable lead, it was important that Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett gave England a solid start to the innings, and they did so with an opening partnership of 45.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut Ashwin gave India the breakthrough by getting Crawley for 31 at 45-1.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut Pope and Duckett continued to attack India’s bowlers.
Embed from Getty ImagesWhen the duo took the score to 89-1 by Lunch, this was a message to India, that said, You might be just about be on top, but we’re no backing down, We’re here to fight.’
And the momentum was with England, as runs started to flow after Lunch.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut Duckett’s attacking innings of 47 from 52, came to an end, courtesy of a wild hack, which saw Bumrah castling him at 113-2.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was soon 117-3 when Bumrah pinned Root LBW for just two runs.
Embed from Getty ImagesThings got even trickier for England when Bairstow was bowled leaving a straight ball from Jadeja at 140-2.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut Pope looked like he was batting on a different surface, as he reached his fifty in 53 balls.
Embed from Getty ImagesHowever, England’s’ Captain received an absolute beauty from Ashwin, who bowled him for just six runs.
Embed from Getty ImagesEngland headed into Tea at 172-5, with a deficit of just 18 runs. They needed another partnership to not only make India bat again but to get themselves back into the contest.
Ben Foakes and Ollie Pope began to take advantage of a tired-looking Indian attack.
Embed from Getty ImagesPope reached his fifth Test hundred in 154 balls.
Embed from Getty ImagesHe got a life on 110 as Axar Patela failed to cling on to his top-edged sweep.
And took advantage of India’s tired bowling attack.
d9CWJyKdDJP0F-0=’,w:’594px’,h:’412px’,items:’1965091525′,caption: true ,tld:’com’,is360: false })});Patel still had the energy to redeem himself, by knocking Foakes over for 34 at 275-6.
Embed from Getty ImagesBut Ahmed was determined to help England increase their lead, and put on another partnership with Pope, to take England to 316-6 at stumps.
Embed from Getty ImagesIt was a high-quality day’s play of Test Cricket, and Pope’s magnificent innings of 148 has given England some hope of possibly pulling off a win, as they lead by 126.
However, with four wickets left, India will be hoping to restrict them to a score of under 200.
What does Day 4 have in store,
Join us on World In Sport to find out.
Image Credit: Deposit Photos