Yet another day for India despite England enjoying a brief period of ascendency early on Day 3 of the rescheduled fifth Test at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Sunday morning started with England employing the so-called 'Bazball' from the get-go, and overnight batters Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes dominating Indian bowlers. But by the close of play, India were 125/3 in 45 overs in the second innings for a 257-run lead with Cheteshwar Pujara (50 off 139) and Rishabh Pant (30 in 46) unbeaten. They have already added 50 runs in 91 balls for the fourth wicket even as cameras caught skipper Jasprit Bumrah sitting all padded up for a possible chance to become a nightwatchman.
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Spurred by Virat Kohli, Jonny Bairstow played a brilliant counter-attacking knock, hitting 106 - his third century in as many Tests. But no other England batter managed to trouble the Indian bowlers, except for Sam Billings up to some extent with his 57-ball 36. Skipper Stokes survived a couple of chances but finally perished playing the attacking game for 25 off 36.
For India, Mohammed Siraj took four for 66, while Bumrah returned with 3/68 -- skipper's all three wickets were taken on Day 2. Imperious Mohammed Shami got 2/78, including the wicket of Bairstow which broke England's back. England were dismissed for 284 runs (in reply to India's first innings total of 416) to take a lead of 132 runs. Then, Shubman Gill (4) became James Anderson's victim. Hanuma Vihari also didn't last long, and got out for 11 to Stuart Broad. Stokes introduced himself into the attack and got the wicket of Virat Kohli, who was looking in a fine nick for his 20 off 40. Awkward bounce doing the damage. And that brought Rishabh Pant. Catch highlights and cricket sores of ENG vs IND, 2nd Test:
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11:45 PM IST: Yes, another brilliant day for India!
23:33 PM IST: Stumps
Joe Root continues. A single off the second and fifty for Cheteshwar Pujara, in 139 balls with the help of five fours. And a tough chance against Rishabh Pant off the final ball of the day. 88 runs and two wickets in the session. 34 runs in the last ten overs. Also a fifty-run stand in 91 runs for Pujara (50 off 139) and Pant (30 off 46). India lead by 257 runs. IND - 125/3 (45)
23:13 PM IST: Maiden To Pant
Joe Root gets his first over. He ended Rishabh Pant's stunning knock in the first innings. For starters, Pant is not taking the bait. At least so far. And a maiden to Pant. A rarity. India lead by 248 runs. Pant (25 off 35) and Cheteshwar Pujara (47 off 126) have added 41 in 67. IND - 116/3 (41)
22:52 PM IST: India Rebuild
Stuart Broad continues. A single off the second ball. His figures so far: 1/33 in 11 overs. Cheteshwar Pujara (43 off 118) and Rishabh Pant (16 off 19) have added 28 runs in 43 balls for the fourth wicket. India lead by 235 runs. IND - 103/3 (37)
22:13 PM IST: Kohli Goes
Ben Stokes on with his third over. An awkward bounce and Virat Kohli is gone. Off the gloves to the wicketkeeper Sam Billings, then to Joe Root at first slip. A promising knock ends. Kohli goes for 20 off 40. Rishabh Pant joins Cheteshwar Pujara. India lead by 207 runs. IND - 75/3 (29.5)
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21:58 PM IST: Lead Goes Past 200
James Anderson on with his 10th over, and a beautiful drive from Virat Kohli off the fifth. Kohli (20 off 35) and Cheteshwar Pujara (32 in 81) in an unbeaten stand of 30 runs in 63 balls. India lead by 205 runs. IND - 73/2 (27)
21:29 PM IST: Streaky
Matty Potts continues. Cheteshwar Pujara (27 off 62) gets a streaky four off the fifth. Before that there was a review for LBW against Pujara. Height saved him. Virat Kohli on 13 off 12 with the help of three fours. India lead by 193 runs. IND - 61/2 (20)
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21:09 PM IST: Vihari Goes
Stuart Broad on with his 6th over. Hanuma Vihari edges the third ball to Jonny Bairstow at third slip. He goes for 11 off 44. The 39-run stand in 97 balls is broken. Virat Kohli is the new man. India lead by 175 runs. IND 43/2 (16.3)
20:57 PM IST: Play Resumes
Matty Potts with the first over after tea. And a maiden to Cheteshwar Pujara. Three overs, two maidens and one run for the pacer so far. IND - 37/1 (14)
20:34 PM IST: Tea
Jack Leach gets his first over. Five from it. Cheteshwar Pujara (17 off 39) and Hanuma Vihari (10 off 37) in an unbeaten 33-run stand off 76. India lead by 169 runs. IND - 37/1 (13)
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20:01 PM IST: Lead Goes Past 150
James Anderson on with his third over. A maiden to Hanuma Vihari (1 off 13). 15-run stand for the second wicket with Cheteshwar Pujara (12 off 15). India lead by 151 runs. IND - 19/1 (5)
19:40 PM IST: Gill Goes
And it takes only three balls for the first wicket. A dot, four through cover, then caught behind. Shubman Gill out for 4 off 3. James Anderson gives England a dream start. Hanuma Vihari is the new batter. India lead by 136 runs. IND - 4/1 (0.3)
19:36 PM IST: India's 2nd Innings Start
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James Anderson with the new ball. Shubman Gill takes the first strike. His opening partner is Cheteshwar Pujara.
19:29 PM IST: Innings Break
Mohammed Siraj removes Matty Potts for 19 off 18, caught at second slip by Shreyas Iyer. Given out. Soft signal also out. But it looks very very tricky. Unless you can prove otherwise to the onfield umpire. Fourth for Siraj, his figures: 4/66 in 11.3. So, England are all out for 284 runs in 61.3 overs. India take a 132-run lead.
19:10 PM IST: Nine Down
Mohammed Siraj continues. And he gets a third. Sam Billings drags the first ball of the 60th over. He goes for 36 off 57. James Anderson joins Matty Potts in the middle. England trail by 149 runs. ENG - 267/9 (59.1)
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18:52 PM IST: Siraj Strikes
Mohammed Siraj returns for his ninth over. Stuart Broad gets a top edge and the skier is caught by the man with the gloves. Broad goes for 1 off 5. Matty Potts is the new man. England trail by 168 runs. ENG - 248/8 (55.4)
18:42 PM IST: Shami Gers Bairstow
Mohammed Shami returns for his 19th over, and gets the big wicket of Jonny Bairstow for 106 off 140. Caught at first slip by Virat Kohli. Deserved wicket for the pacer. 91-run stand in 105 balls is broken. Stuart Broad is the new man. England trail by 175 runs. ENG - 241/7 (54.1)
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18:33 PM IST: Spin On
Ravindra Jadeja gets his first over. A single off the fourth ball, taken by Jonny Bairstow (103). England trail by 179 runs. ENG - 237/6 (52)
18:24 PM IST: Stand Growins
Shardul Thakur continues. Eight from his seventh. England trail by 181 runs. Jonny Bairstow (102) and Sam Billings (23) are in an 85-run stand. ENG - 235/6 (50)
18:14 PM IST: Bairstow Ton
Four off the last ball, thanks to a misfield from Ravindra Jadeja of all people, and third consecutive century for Jonny Bairstow, this time in 119 balls (14 fours and two sixes). His stand with Sam Billings (20 off 27) is now worth 77 in 65. And 74 of those came in the last ten overs. Shardul Thakur's figures: 1/40 in 6 overs. England trail by 189 runs. ENG - 227/6 (48)
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18:00 PM IST: Play Resumes
Players are back for the post-lunch session. Shardul Thakur to complete his fifth over, three balls remaining. Jonny Bairstow will take strike.
17:44 PM IST: Delay
It's not raining now, but there's a delay in the start of post-lunch play. Restart time is 1:30 PM local/6:00 PM IST.
16:52 PM IST: And that's early lunch on Day 3.
16:48 PM IST: Rain Stops Play
Still no sign of spin for India. Shardul Thakur continues. Jonny Bairstow given LBW out. He immediately takes the review, and replays show the ball nicking bat. A couple to third man, then a dot. And English weather plays its part in the game. Players are off. England trail by 216 runs. Jonny Bairstow (91 off 113) and Sam Billings (7 off 17) in an unbeaten 51-run stand in 49 balls. ENG - 200/6 (45.3)
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16:39 PM IST: No Mercy
Well. Jonny Bairstow is showing no mercy to Shardul Thakur. Back-to-back boundaries -- four and a six, -- the maximum a disdainful hoick over deep mid-wicket. 11 from the over England trail by 220 runs. Bairstow is on 88 off 106. ENG - 196/6 (44)
16:28 PM IST: Bairstow Overtakes Khawaja
Shardul Thakur on with his third over. Jonny Bairstow hits back-to-back fours, clean strikes on either side. He's already the leading scorer in Test cricket this year, overtaking Ushman Khawaja (822 runs). Thakur completes the over with a new cherry. Bairstow on 72 off 93 and Sam Billings on 6 of 15. England trail by 238 runs. ENG - 178/6 (42)
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16:15 PM IST: Billings Watchful
Shardul Thakur continues. A no-ball from it with Sam Billings blocking, fending off the last five nalls. England trail by 256 runs. ENG - 160/6 (40)
16:02 PM IST: Stunning Catch
Wow! Ben Stokes is living a charmed life. Dropped by Jasprit Bumrah at mid-off. Another sitter. But the Indian skipper pulls off a screamer the very next ball to redeem himself, and also the bowler, Shardul Thakur. 'Bazball' seriously getting into Stokes' head. In every sense. He goes for 25 off 36. Sam Billings is the new man. England trail by 292 runs. ENG - 124/6 (37.4)
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15:38 PM IST: Bairstow Fifty
Mohammed Siraj on with his 5th over. A single off the fifth and 50 in 81 for Jonny Bairstow. Serious counter-attack from England in the last half an hour. 48 runs in the last 30 balls. England trail by 268 runs. ENG - 148/5 (37)
15:51 PM IST: 50-run Stand
Ben Stokes gets a life on 18, dropped by Shardul Thakur off the first ball. Top edge and Thakur, at cover, makes a meal out of it. Mohammed Shami, again the bowler. Then Jonny Bairstow hits the next ball for a four to bring up a 50-run stand in 60 balls, then one more. Shami then demands a new pair of shoes with one ball remaining in the over. The one he's wearing, the right one, is ripped apart at the toe. Eventful over. 11 from it. 58 from the last ten overs. England trail by 275 runs. ENG - 141/5 (36)
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15:38 PM IST: Stand Growing
Mohammed Shami on with his 17th over. Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow hit a four each, off the second and fourth respectively. Their stand now worth 38 in 52. England trail by 295 runs. ENG - 121/5 (34)
15:26 PM IST: 100 Up For ENG
100 comes up for England with a three from Jonny Bairstow. Mohammed Shami bowls full and outside off and Bairstow gets a thick edge over point. Ravindra Jadeja does well to save the boundary. ENG 100/5 (32)
15:00 PM IST: Game On
Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow are in the middle and Mohammed Shami starts the day with a maiden over. ENG 84/5 (28)
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13:57 PM IST: Weather Update
Unlike the first two days, the weather seems fine in Birmingham on Sunday morning with the play expected to start on time. The sun is out now although there are patches of clouds in the sky.
14:30 PM IST: Bumrah Factor
All the five England wickets that went down so far, the pacers have had the last laugh. Bumrah got the first three wickets with Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj getting one apiece.
14:10 PM IST: Welcome Greetings
Hello and welcome to Day 3 of the ongoing fifth Test match between England and India.
