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Sun, 18 December 2016
5th Test: KL Rahul's 199 steers India to 391-4 at stumps on Day 3

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17:11   KL Rahul's 199 steers India to 391-4 at stumps on Day 3


STUMPS - DAY 3

India 391-4 (108 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard


A good day of cricket, dominated by the Indian batsmen on a wicket not offering much to the bowlers.

Rahul led the way with a flawless knock of 199, hitting 16 fours and three sixes in his 311-ball knock, before he fell late in the day one run short of his maiden double century in Tests.

His Karnataka team mate Karun Nair showed great application to be unbeaten on 71 from 136 balls for his maiden half-century in Tests.

Vijay, batting at No. 6 after he could not open because of injury, was unbeaten on 17 at stumps on the third day.

It was a hard toil for the England bowlers on a flat pitch with Moeen, Stokes and Rashid picking up a wicket each.

They trail England's score by 86 runs and would be looking for another good day tomorrow and take a sizeable lead to push for victory.
17:02   KL Rahul's 199 steers India to 391-4 at stumps on Day 3


India 391-4 (108 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard


Local lad Vijay gets off the mark with a single on the leg side off Moeen. He will bide his time and look to just bat out till stumps.

After a few quiet overs, Vijay finally decides to cut loose as he goes down the track and lofts Moeen over mid-on for a four.

In Moeen's next over, which is the final over of the day, Vijay hits two boundaries to end the day in confident fashion.
16:45   KL Rahul dismissed for 199, India lose 4th wicket


India 372-4 (103 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard


It remains to be seen if Rahul would continue to bat aggressively and complete his double century before stumps or if he is content to play for stumps.

With Moeen keeping it outside the off-stump, Karun defends a couple of deliveries before playing the reverse sweep to hit it through the vacant point region for a four.

He again attempts the reverse sweep but misses and England appeal for a catch at short leg and take the DRS but that was nowhere close to the bat.

Leg-spinner Rashid comes into the attack. Rahul sweeps the second ball for a four to take his score to 199 but is dismissed off the very next delivery.

Rahul plays away from his body and ends up hitting it straight into the hands of the fielder on the off-side.

He can't believe he has thrown his wicket away in such a tame fashion on the verge of his maiden double ton in Tests. Rahul is shocked and so are his team mates in the dressing room and the young opener walks off in disbelief.

A superb innings comes to and as Rahul walks back after a majestic knock of 199 from 311 balls, having hit 16 fours and three sixes.

Murali Vijay, batting at No. 6 because of an injury, is struck on the pads off the very first delivery but the umpire turns down the appeal. England decide to take the DRS, their second in as many overs, but the impact is well outside the off-stump and England lose both their reviews in the space of five minutes.
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16:31   Rahul closes in on double ton as India make good progress


India 361-3 (100 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard


Just when it looked the two Indian batsmen were playing for stumps, Rahul cuts loose and goes after Moeen.

He paddles sweep the off-spinner fine on the leg side for a four before stepping out to the next ball and launching it over mid-on for a six to take his score into the 190s.

India have scored at a good rate to reach 361 for three in 100 overs, still trailing England by 116 runs.

We will have extra time as England are still to bowl 10 more overs to complete their quota of 90 runs.
16:11   Rahul hits 150, Karun gets 50 to lift India on Day 3


India 340-3 (95 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard


The two young batsmen bring up their 100-run stand for the fourth wicket with a single to Karun off Ball in the 88th over.

The two Karnataka batsmen have showed great maturity and take the responsibility upon themselves to get India back on track after the dismissal of captain Kohli.

Ball squares up Rahul and gets an edge but it flies between the slips and gully for a four.

India are looking comfortable on 319 for three in 90 overs with Rahul on 169 and Nair on 46.

Nair hits a perfect straight drive off Ball past mid-on for a four to bring up his maiden Test fifty in style, from 98 balls.

Time for spin as Dawson comes back. The second ball slips down the leg which Rahul tickles fine for a four before the two batsmen pick a single each.

Moeen comes back into the attack as England employ spinners from both ends. Rahul and Nair keep the scoreboard moving with five runs courtesy of three singles and a couple.

England's over rate has been poor, with 15 overs remaining and just 20 minutes left for the scheduled close of play.
15:38   Rahul hits 150 to take India past 300


India 313-3 (88 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard


England take the second new ball after 84 overs as pacer Broad comes back into the attack.

Karun is looking quite comfortable now as he turns the first ball on the leg side for one and Rahul defends the rest of the over.

Karun (34) gets a lifeline in the next over bowled by Ball as he gets an edge but is dropped by Cook at first slip. That ball was flying off the bat and Cook barely got time to react as he got his right hand to it but failed to hold on.

In the next over, Nair takes a single to take India past the 300-run mark, in the 87th over. Rahul then goes hard after a wide delivery which goes between the gully and the second slip fielder for a four to take his score to 159, his highest score in Tests.

Rahul takes two runs to point before he takes a single off the next delivery and Nair takes two runs on the off-side off the last ball of the over.
15:10   Rahul hits 150 as India make good progress on Day 3


India 291-3 (83 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard


England are not taking the second new ball as part-timer Joe Root comes in to bowl the 81st over of the innings.

Karun drives the second ball through the covers for two runs before he reverse sweeps the fourth ball for a four before taking a single.

Spin from both ends as England don't want to take the second new ball yet with Dawson bowling from the other end.

Meanwhile, Rahul flicks Root through midwicket for a four to bring up his 150 in some style, from 253 balls, having hit 11 fours and two sixes.
14:48   Rahul's century drives India forward on Day 3


India 268-3 (77 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard


Stokes, who has bowled just six overs so far, starts off after the tea break. He starts with a short ball to Rahul, who opts to leave it. Stokes tries a slower ball as Rahul is too early into the shot but manages to defend it.

Rahul drives the fifth ball down the ground past mid-off for a couple of runs and defends the last ball.

Like in the previous two sessions, it is Dawson, who starts off at the start of a session. He makes a tidy start giving away just two singles, in his 14th over.

Stokes tries a short delivery to Rahul which is a bit wide as the right-hander ramps it over the slip region for a four. He turns the next ball on the leg side for a couple and then picks a single to thirdman before Karun does the same for one.

The two batsmen have brought up their 50-run stand to steady India after the early dismissal of Kohli.
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14:17   Rahul unbeaten on 133, India 256-3 at tea on Day 3


TEA - DAY 3

India 256-3 (74 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard


A good session for England as they managed to get the wickets of the in-form Pujara and Kohli quite cheaply for 16 and 15 respectively.

Rahul bagged his maiden Test century in India and was unbeaten on 133 at the tea interval. He was particularly impressive against the spinners, using his feet well for a couple of sixes but he slowed down considerably in the post-lunch session.

Karun had a nervy start before he settled down to score 19 not out at the tea  break.

England had a good session as they not only got two good wickets but also kept things tight, giving away just 83 in 26 overs.
14:14   Rahul unbeaten on 133, India 256-3 at tea on Day 3


India 256-3 (74 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard


England continue with pace from one end as Jake Ball takes from Broad, who bowled a good last spell and was rewarded with the wicket of Kohli.

Ball starts with a maiden over to Karun, who looks slightly more settled as compared to the start of his innings.

Rahul looks to sweep Rashid but doesn't connect before he looks for another but gets an inside edge for two runs on the leg side.

Pacer Ball hits Rahul with one that bounces more than expected as it goes off the gloves on to his rib cage, leaving him in some pain.

Rahul has a close shave as he looks for a quick single to Dawson at mid-on who swoops in quickly but misses the direct hit with the batsman struggling to make his crease.

Rahul then gives Rashid the charge and plays a nice drive through the covers for a four. The fourth ball is flicked to deep midwicket to fetch the right-hander another couple of runs.

With around 10 mins to go for tea, England bring back Moeen, who gives away three singles in the over.

Rahul takes a single to bring up India's 250, in the 74th over. Rashid drops one short as Karun pulls it through midwicket for a four before he tickles the last ball fine for two runs to end the session.
13:41  


India 229-3 (66 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard


Two young Karnataka batsmen out in the middle for India, who need a big partnership to inch their way towards safety as England strike with wickets at regular intervals on Day 3.

The onus will be now on the experienced Rahul to guide Karun in the first few overs of his innings, while also look to bat for a long time.

Karun gets off the mark with an uppish drive through the covers for a single and Rahul collects one off the next ball.

Broad continues with his ploy of bowling it wide of the off-stump and playing on the batsman's patience.

Leg-spinner Rashid replaces Dawson and Rahul gets in the attack mode as he goes down the track and plays the inside out lofted shot over the off-side for two runs.

Karun goes back to defend as Rashid gets some extra bounce which the right-hander defends off the back foot and the balls falls away from the fielder at short leg. He is nearly deceived by the googly as he gets an inside edge off the last ball for a single to square leg.

Karun will surely take confidence from the crashing straight drive he plays to a full delivery from Broad for his first four of the innings.

However, the right-hander is struggling to pick Rashid. Karun looks to drive the leg-spinner but gets a thick outside edge which goes past the slip fielder for three runs.

Rashid drops it short as Rahul pulls it through midwicket where Buttler makes a superb save inside the ropes to keep it down to two.
13:17   Kohli fails with the bat, India lose 3rd wicket


India 211-3 (61 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard


Stokes tests Rahul with a few quick bouncers and the India opener is happy to leave them alone as the pacer finishes with a maiden.

Left-spinner Dawson also looking to build the pressure from his end as he follows it up with a good maiden over to Kohli as he confidently defends.

Stuart Broad comes into the attack of place of Stokes, who starts with a maiden to Rahul, the third in succession for England.

Kohli breaks the run of maiden overs as he takes a single off Dawson on the leg side, the first run after three overs.

Rahul takes one before Kohli steers a wide delivery past point for a couple and then picks a single.

It is Broad, who provides the breakthrough with the big wicket of Kohli. The India captain, who made 15, was foxed by the slower ball as he hit it straight to the fielder at extra cover to register a rare failure in the series.

The tactics of bowling it wide of the off-stump to Kohli worked for England as the India captain finally get fed up and went after one away from his body.

England with the slight upperhand as India are reduced to 211 for three in the 61st over.
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12:40   Rahul hits century to lift India on Day 3


India 197-2 (53 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard


Rahul again brings out the reverse sweep, infact the reverse paddle against Dawson for two runs to thirdman. He then lofts the spinner over mid-on for another couple of runs as the fielder manages to pull it back just inside the ropes.

Rahul doing it sensibly as he tucks Dawson behind square on the leg side and comes back for two to take his score to 98.

He gets a leading edge off the next as he looks to turn it on the leg side and then attempts the reverse sweep but fails to make proper connection. He is looking a bit edgy with just a couple of runs needed for the elusive century.

Stokes bowls a bouncer to Kohli, who pulls it on the leg side for a single. Rahul turns the next ball on the leg side and takes a quick single before the fielder backing up messes it and gives away two more runs.

The three runs give Rahul his first century in India and his fourth overall and no one looks more pleased than his captain Kohli at the other end. Infact, Kohli started celebrating well before Rahul had started his own as he looked quite delighted to get to the landmark for the first time in front of his home fans.

What a superb innings from the young right-hander after struggling with injury in the last couple of months!

Kohli guides the fourth ball to thirdman for two runs before playing the last ball through the same area for a four.
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12:29   Pujara out for 16, India lose 2nd wicket


India 181-2 (51 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard

Ben Stokes to kick off proceedings after the lunch break, for his first bowl on the third day. He starts with a bouncer to Pujara, who ducks under it before he awkwardly fends the next short ball on the leg side for one.

Rahul steers the fifth ball behind point for a single to take his score to 90.

It's left-arm spinner Dawson from the other end. Rahul takes a single from the first ball before Pujara cuts the fifth ball behind point for a four.

Stokes gets the first wicket after the lunch break with the wicket of Pujara, who is caught at first slip for 16. The right-hander plays a loose shot outside the off-stump as he pokes at a wide one only to get an edge which is well held by captain Cook.
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11:37   Rahul, Parthiv hit half-centuries; India 173-1 at lunch


LUNCH - DAY 3

India 173-1 (48 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard

India continued with their strong start on Day 3 as the openers put on 152 runs for the opening wicket with both Rahul and Parthiv hitting half-centuries. The hosts scored 113 runs in 28 overs in the morning session, while losing just one wicket.

Parthiv, who made 71, was the only wicket to fall in the morning when he was caught by Jos Buttler off Moeen.

Rahul looked in complete control and played some attacking shots off the spinners to be unbeaten on a fine innings of 89, inclusive of eight fours and two sixes, at the lunch interval. Cheteshwar Pujara hit a couple of fours to be 11 not out.

The pitch has looked totally flat and England will need a special effort from their bowlers to stop India from amassing the runs in the next two sessions.
11:33   Rahul, Parthiv hit half-centuries; India 173-1 at lunch


India 173-1 (48 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard

Rahul trying to disrupt Moeen as he brings out the reverse sweep yet again and finds the boundary before he takes a single to take his score to 85.

Rashid flights one to Pujara, who looks to defend and gets an inside edge but there is no fielder close in on the leg side to take the catch.

Left-arm spinner Dawson comes back into the attack in place of Moeen with around 10 minutes left for lunch.

Bowling from over the wicket he gets one to bounce more than expected as Pujara gets hits on the pads and maybe the gloves but it falls safely on the off-side.

England looking to attack with Rashid with quite a few close to the bat against Pujara. He drops one short but Pujara can't beat the fielder at point with the cut shot. But the next ball is full as Pujara flicks it through midwicket for a four.

The last ball is short and Pujara helps himself to another boundary, pulling it easily through midwicket.

A single each to Rahul and Pujara in the final over of the session bowled by Dawson to end a good morning session for the Indians.
11:08   Parthiv out for 71, India lose 1st wicket


India 152-1 (42 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid comes into the attack. The first ball is on the leg side as Parthiv flicks it on the leg side for two runs and then picks one two balls later.

The last ball is full and wide as Parthiv stretches forward and hits a cracking drive through the covers for a four. Unlike earlier in the series, Parthiv has looked to play with a bit of caution and not trying anything fancy but has still scored at a good rate.

Rahul is looking quite at ease against the spinners. He plays the reverse sweep against off-spinner Moeen, hitting it behind point for a four as he looks set for a century on a flat pitch in Chennai.

Parthiv comes down the track to Moeen and hits him against the spin over midwicket for a four. He tries the same shot a couple of balls later but this time he gets the leading edge and is caught on the off-side.

Parthiv walks back after a fine knock of 71, after he had to bat as the replacement opener following the injury to Murali Vijay. He kept wickets for nearly two days but put his hand up to open the innings and did a good job, putting on 152 runs for the opening wicket with Rahul to lay a good foundation for the Indians.
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10:33   Rahul, Parthiv hit half-centuries to drive India forward


India 120-0 (33 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard

Broad goes for runs as he is hit for a boundary each by Parthiv and Rahul, in the 28th over.

Parthiv flicks the first ball of the over through midwicket for a four before Rahul steers the fifth ball through the off-side for two runs to bring up his fifty, from 96 balls.

The next ball is full as Rahul flicks it in some style through midwicket for a four as India continue to make good progress on Day 3.

Moeen comes into the attack as Rahul steers the first ball behind point to raise the 100-run stand for the opening wicket, the first for India in 32 innings since Jun 2015.

Moeen gets one to turn and bounce as Parthiv gets an edge which flies past Ben Stokes in the slips. That was virtually unplayable as Parthiv tried to turn it on the leg side but the ball took the shoulder of the bat.

Rahul looking in complete control as he plays a beautiful drive through the covers for a boundary.

Rahul sweeps Moeen from well outside the off-stump through square leg for a four and immediately pulls up in pain. He is struggling with some pain in his knee and is struggling to even run for singles.

Ball tries the yorker but slips it down the leg side as Parthiv clips it fine for a four before he brings up his fifty later in the over with a single to fine leg.

India are looking comfortable on 120 for no loss in 33 overs, trailing England by 357 runs.
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09:58   Rahul, Parthiv give India a good start


India 84-0 (26 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard

Rahul again goes after Dawson in his next over. England push the fielder back to long-off and Rahul chips down and lofts the left-arm spinner over midwicket for a six. He turns the fifth ball on the leg side for a single before Parthiv defends the last ball.

Rahul is looking to be positive, especially against debutant Dawson, looking to disrupt his rhythm early on.

In the next over, Rahul punches Broad through the off-side for three runs to inch closer to his half-century.


09:42  


India 72-0 (23 ovs) vs England 477 | Scorecard

Left-arm spinner Liam Dawson to open the bowling for England on Day 3. Rahul drives the third ball to mid-off for a single and Parthiv takes one off the next ball as two runs come from the first over of the day.

Pace from the other end with Stuart Broad starting off from round the wicket to left-hander Parthiv.

It is slightly overcast at the moment in Chennai but no immediate threat of rain at the moment. Parthiv drives a full delivery straight down the ground past mid-on for the first four of the day.

There is nothing in the pitch for the bowlers and two batsmen would be hoping to bat as long as possible.

Meanwhile, Rahul comes down the track to Dawson and lifts him back over his head for a straight six. A couple of balls later he chips down the track but this time he is forced to defend as he does for the rest of the over.
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09:04   4th Test: India hope to build on good start on Day 3


India 60-0 vs England 477 | Scorecard

Welcome to the coverage of Day 3 of the fifth and final Test between India and England in Chennai, on Sunday.

India made a strong reply to England's first-innings total of 477 after half-centuries by debutant Liam Dawson and number nine Adil Rashid underlined the tourists' batting depth, on the second day.

India claimed three wickets on the second morning but the 108-run partnership between Dawson and Rashid in a productive second session for the touring side frustrated the hosts.

India's Murali Vijay hurt his shoulder while fielding and could not come out to bat but the makeshift opening pair of Lokesh Rahul and Parthiv Patel did a decent job, adding 60 runs without being separated.

Rahul was unbeaten on 30 at stumps and the right-hander will be eager to make amends with the bat having dropped centurion Moeen Ali before he had scored on Friday.

Patel was on 29 at the other end with India, who have an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series, 417 runs behind on a pitch which has grown easier to bat on.

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