On the third day of the Test match between India and England at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, England concluded with a lead of 126 runs, led by Ollie Pope’s impressive century.
Day 3 Match Summary
In a seesaw battle at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, India faced a challenge in extending their overnight lead of 175 runs, managing only 15 runs in the morning session before being bowled out for 436. Ravindra Jadeja’s dismissal triggered a series of wickets, and Axar Patel’s departure marked the end of India’s innings with a lead of 190 runs. Joe Root showcased his bowling prowess, claiming four wickets for 79 runs.
England, in their second innings, launched a fiery counterattack. Opener Zack Crawley set the tone with an aggressive innings of 31 runs off 33 balls, featuring four boundaries and a six. Ben Duckett and Ollie Pope continued the assault, adding 68 runs for the second wicket in just 57 balls.
However, India, sensing the urgency, mounted a sensational comeback, picking up wickets quickly to reduce England to 163 for five. The bowlers applied pressure, and the game seemed to be tilting in India’s favor. Yet, Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes came to England’s rescue, forming a crucial partnership of 112 runs to erase the deficit.
Pope’s exceptional unbeaten innings stole the show as he reached 148 off 208 balls, hammering 17 boundaries. His resilience and skill guided England to a total of 316 for six at the end of the day’s play. Despite India’s efforts, Pope’s innings tilted the balance back in England’s favor.
R. Ashwin and Jasprit Bumrah were the standout performers for India in the bowling department, each claiming two wickets. However, England’s strong recovery, led by Ollie Pope, has set the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the Test match.
As the teams gear up for the next day, England holds a lead of 126 runs with four wickets in hand. The unpredictable nature of Test cricket has once again taken center stage, leaving fans eagerly anticipating the twists and turns that the final day may bring. Ollie Pope’s heroics have added a new dimension to the contest, making the outcome unpredictable and setting the stage for an enthralling finish.
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Match Stats
England Fall of wickets 1st Innings: 1-55 (Ben Duckett – 11.5 ov), 2-58 (Ollie Pope – 14.4 ov), 3-60 (Zak Crawley – 15.1 ov), 4-121 (Jonny Bairstow – 32.4 ov), 5-125 (Joe Root – 35.3 ov), 6-137 (Ben Foakes – 42.5 ov), 7-155 (Rehan Ahmed – 48.3 ov), 8-193 (Tom Hartley – 54.6 ov), 9-234 (Mark Wood – 61.3 ov), 10-246 (Ben Stokes – 64.3 ov)
India Fall of wickets 1st Innings: 1-80 (Rohit Sharma – 12.2 ov), 2-123 (Yashasvi Jaiswal – 23.4 ov), 3-159 (Shubman Gill – 34.5 ov), 4-223 (Shreyas Iyer – 52.3 ov), 5-288 (KL Rahul – 64.5 ov), 6-356 (Kona Srikar Bharat – 88.2 ov), 7-358 (Ravichandran Ashwin – 90.3 ov), 8-436 (Ravindra Jadeja – 119.3 ov), 9-436 (Jasprit Bumrah – 119.4 ov), 10-436 (Axar Patel – 120.6 ov)
England Fall of wickets 2nd Innings: 1-45 (Zak Crawley – 9.2 ov), 2-113 (Ben Duckett – 18.5 ov), 3-117 (Joe Root – 20.6 ov), 4-140 (Jonny Bairstow – 27.4 ov), 5-163 (Ben Stokes – 36.5 ov), 6-275 (Ben Foakes – 66.6 ov)