The pendulum swung wildly. India began and ended Day 3 on a high. England launched an extraordinary fightback between those two phases. After the heroics of Harry Brook, Jamie Smith and Mohammed Siraj, India had a thin edge. With a lead of 244, nine wickets in hand and two days to go, they must fancy their chances of squaring the series by winning the second Test.
It was a bizarre day. The Indians had probably exceeded their own expectations when Siraj struck twice in two balls to reduce England to 84/5. The hosts were 503 runs behind at that stage. The next 60 overs were ruled by Brook and Smith. Not a second or a ball was wasted to assess the pitch, conditions or the bowling. They straightaway attacked a bunch of bowlers who had their tails up.
By the time the madness of this partnership was broken by Akash Deep, Brook and Smith had raised 303 runs. Both of them drove with panache when the bowlers pitched it up and reserved their best for an inexplicably long spell of short balls tried out by Shubman Gill’s bowlers. They carried on with that ploy despite being smashed around and this period of play helped England reduce India’s advantage drastically. From a hopeless position, the hosts have hung in.
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Siraj and Deep masterminded another dramatic turnaround with the second new ball as England lost their last five wickets for 20 runs. A lead of 180 was a lot less than what India had looked like getting in the morning, but it’s a handy cushion. The openers started on a positive note and although Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed, being ahead by 244 means India can still fancy their chances.
Having said that, India still have lots to do. The pitch is great for batting and against England, even 400 is not a safe enough fourth-innings target. So the Indian batters will have to dig deep again and get as many as possible. Time will also become a factor because for India to make about 200 more means fewer overs for the bowlers to take 10 more English wickets.
Credit for that goes to Brook and Smith. The most cavalier of counterattacking comebacks in recent history has not pulled England out of danger completely. But it has dented India’s chances by breaking their hegemony over this Test. Behind by 500-runs and five down is match over in 90 per cent of cases. That England are still in it proves the value of that stunning partnership.
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