Yashasvi Jaiswal. Photo : Collected
A scintillating century from Indian bater Yashasvi Jaiswal gave India's bowlers a good motive on the third day as India is in a strong position.
Jaiswal found great support from his other counterpart Shubman Gill and their partnership put on a 158-run stand. But he was forced to retire hurt due to back spasms. This duo started their journey when Rohit Sharma was out LBW with India on 30 in the second innings. Just as England were dreaming of a comfortable comeback, their dream went in vain because of Jaiswal and Gill's clinical partnership.
Gill began fluently but proceeded to rein himself in when England bowled to their fields, and complemented his equally circumspect partner. Jaiswal saw through 73 balls for his 35 but suddenly decided to unleash himself, carting the veteran James Anderson for boundaries and kickstarting a period of dominance.
He swept, lofted, and reverse-swept the spinners constantly and raced away to a hundred of just 122 balls. His second ton of the series, and third overall in Tests, elicited a big leap in celebration. But that in turn proved to damage his back as he was forced to retire hurt after a stroke-filled 104.
As Jaiswal went hammer and tongs, Gill quietly played a mature hand in racking up his second fifty-plus score of the series as India's lead swelled past 300. But they fumbled towards the end of the day with Jaiswal having to retire hurt and Rajat Patidar getting dismissed to a long hop for the second time in the Test.
The day began with Jasprit Bumrah bagging Joe Root's wicket for the ninth time in Tests with the batter's attempted reverse-scoop nestling in the hands of Yashasvi Jaiswal at second slip. Kuldeep then had one turning in sharply to trap Jonny Bairstow LBW plumb in front.
He had one more when Duckett, against the run of play, hit a long hop straight to short cover to bring down the curtains on a monumental innings.
That wicket forced England to be cautious for a while with Ben Stokes and Ben Foakes being circumspect before taking calculated risks. The duo stayed put with a watchful stand as England chipped away at the deficit. Early in the second session, however, Stokes tried to take on Ravindra Jadeja and ended up holing out to long on. It turned out to be a double strike as Foakes chipped the next one, from Siraj, to mid on.
The lower order slipped up quickly thereafter with Siraj yorking both Rehan Ahmed and James Anderson while Tom Hartley was out stumped against Jadeja, giving India a useful lead.
Messenger/Sumon
