England –India Test Series
3rd Test Played at Leeds, Headingly
Brief Scorecard at Stumps of Day Three
India 1st Innings 78 All out in 40.4 Overs (Rohit Sharma 19, Ajinka Rahane 18, Extras 16, James Anderson 3/6, Craig Overton 3/14, Olie Robinson 2/16, Sam Curran 2/27)
England 432 All Out in 132.2 Overs (Joe Root 121, David Malan 70, Hasseb Hameed 68, Rory Burns 61, Jonny Bairstow 29, Craig Overton 32, Mohammad Sami 4/95, Mohammad Siraj 2/86, Ravindra Jadeja 2/ 88, Jasprit Bumrah 2/59)
India 2nd Innings 215/2 in 80 Overs (Cheteswar Pujara 91*, Rohit Sharma 59, Virat Kohli 45*, Craig Overton 1/35, Olie Robinson 1/40)
India trails by 139 Runs with 8 second Innings Wicket at hand.
Champion Indian batsmen showing their character made the Headingly test back to contest. At stumps on day three India stays in the game scoring 215/2.
Still a long way to go yet. Champion batsmen Pujara (91*) and Kohli (45*) producing unbroken partnership of 99 led India promising England bat again. If India can keep going and scoring 500 in the second innings who knows what might happen. Off course India needs another 140 to make England bat again. What a turn around, what a stunning recovery? Can one imagine this India team got rattled scoring only 78 in the first innings. Only two reached double digit with Rohit (19) the highest scorer. This is what makes Test cricket the most lovable of all formats. Neville Cardus and other icon cricket writers of the past loved this cricket. A game of glorious uncertainty, where only fools predict seeing the morning.
The day three saw overcast condition ideal for swing and England sitting pretty was leaking their lips. It did not take Sami and Bumrah wiping out English tail. Only 9 runs could be added to overnight score. England finished at 432 All out. Sami’s brave effort was rewarded with 4 wickets for 95 runs. England gained a massive 354 runs lead.
Few times in the past team India encountered similar situation and fighting with back to the wall they survived. Batting second time under testing condition Rohit and Rahul started cautiously. They were going ok till Rahul fell to a wonderful catch in the slip by Bairstow of the bowling of Overton. Rohit and Pujara dug in and staged a recovery playing each ball to its merit. Pujara was out of form for a while. But this innings he showed his immense value. Rohit got out scoring 59, but Pujara and Kohli producing unbroken 99 for the 3rd wicket kept India in the match.
India at stumps was 215/2 still needing 140 to make England bat again. England is still favorite with two days remaining but it will depend how long this pair can survive and whether India can get a good enough lead say about 150 to test England on day five. It will not be easy though. The first session of day four will be match defining. World cricket would witness fascinating contest of bat and ball. Moeen Ali may come handy at certain stage as wicket has developed some wears and tears. Who does not like quality batsmen combatting against quality attack going for the kill?
BDST: 0941 0HRS, AUG 28, 2021
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