- Tuesday, May 07, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
INDIA on Friday (27) had the best of the three days in the ongoing third Test match against England at Headingley as they strongly resisted the hosts who had comprehensively beaten them in the first two days.
The tourists, who came out to bat after conceding a mammoth lead of 354 to the Three Lions in the first innings after getting bowled out for a paltry 78 on Day 1, ended the rain-hit day on 215 for 2 with Cheteshwar Pujara batting on 91 and captain Virat Kohli on 45.
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The duo added 99 runs in 32.2 overs to deny the English bowlers more inroads after India lost their second wicket on 116 in the form of Rohit Sharma (59 off 156). Pujara added 82 runs with Sharma after India lost KL Rahul (8 off 54) early, which encouraged the English side to go for the kill.
Pacers Ollie Robinson (1 for 40) and Craig Overton (1 for 45) were the only ones to pick wickets.
India need 140 more runs to make England bat again with two days remaining. They are leading the series 1-0 at the moment, thanks to the comprehensive 151-run victory in the second Test in Lord’s last week.
Earlier in the day, Mohammed Shami (4 for 95) picked Overton (32 off 43) and Jasprit Bumrah (2 for 59) dismissed Robinson to bowl out the hosts for 432 after they resumed from their overnight score of 423 for 8. Captain Joe Root scored his third consecutive hundred (121) in as many Tests to take his side closer to levelling the five-match series 1-1 with two more matches to play. Mohammed Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja were the other two successful Indian bowlers with two wickets each.
Brief scores: India 78 & 215 for 2 (Cheteshwar Pujara 91 not out, Virat Kohli 45 not out, Craig Overton 1 for 35) vs England 432 (Joe Root 121, Mohammed Shami 4 for 95)
