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Fri, 03 August 2018
1st Test: Kohli, Karthik guide India to 110-5 at stumps on Day 3

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23:30   Kohli, Karthik guide India to 110-5 at stumps on Day 3


India 110-5 (36 ovs); Target to win: 194 | Scorecard

Captain Virat Kohli once again led from the front in difficult circumstances as he made 43 not out to guide India to 110 for five in 36 overs at stumps on the third day of the first Test against England on Friday.

Karthik provided him good support with 18 not out as the duo put on an unbroken stand of 32 to steady the innings. The visitors need another 84 runs for victory with five wickets left.

India's top order once again disappointed as wickets kept falling regularly. Stuart Board sent back both the openers -- Murali Vijay (6) and Shikhar Dhawan (13) early on with the new ball.

KL Rahul was caught behind off Stokes after scoring just 13, while Ajinkya Rahane suffered another failure as he was caught behind off Sam Curran for two.

Ravichandran Ashwin's promotion to No. 6 failed as he became the third India batsman in the second innings to fall for 13 to leave the visitors reeling at 78 for five at one stage before Kohli and Karthik staged a mini recovery.

Earlier, Earlier, a solid half-century by Sam Curran propelled England to 180 runs at tea in their second innings on the third day, setting India a target of 194 to win the first Test.

Playing with confidence in only his second Test appearance, the 20-year-old Curran took the attack to the Indian bowlers who had earlier ripped out the heart of the English batting line by reducing the hosts to 87 for 7 shortly after lunch.

Curran struck two valuable partnerships, first with Adil Rashid for 48 runs, which was the biggest of the English innings, and then 41 with fast bowler Stuart Broad for the ninth wicket.

After a cautious start, Curran grew in confidence and clobbered Ravichandran Ashwin, who was the pick of the Indian bowling attack in the first innings, for a six and a four off consecutive balls in the session before tea.

He ended up as the top scorer for the hosts with 63 runs off 65 deliveries peppered with nine boundaries and two sixes. Broad ended with 11 as England limped to their second innings total of 180 at Edgbaston.

For the visitors, Ishant Sharma spearheaded the attack grabbing five wickets for 51 runs followed by Ashwin who grabbed three wickets in the morning session.
23:24   Kohli, Karthik guide India to 110-5; need 84 more for win


India 110-5 (36 ovs); Target to win: 194 | Scorecard

With around five minutes left for stumps, England introduce leg-spinner Adil Rashid for the first time in the second innings.

But he is easily dealt by the two Indian batsmen as they pick two single each to get four runs from the over.

Stokes to bowl the final over of the dya. He tries a few bouncers at Karthik but he is not interested as he keeps ducking under before he clips the fifth ball for a single and Kohli allows another bouncer to sail through to end the third day's play.
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23:14   Kohli, Karthik steady India


India 105-5 (34 ovs); Target to win: 194 | Scorecard

Karthik slowly getting a bit more solid and is looking to follow his captain's example by taking singles whenever possible to keep the scoreboard ticking.

The play has been extended for another 20 minutes to make up for time lost to bad light earlier in the day.

Stokes tests Karthik with a couple of bouncers but Karthik is happy to duck under it with around 15 minutes left for stumps.

The beauty of the pitch is that at no stage can the batsmen afford to relax. Kohli who has been at the crease for 66 balls pokes at a wide outswinger and nearly ends up edging it.

He realises his mistake and allows the next ball to sail through to the keeper.

Karthik and Kohli look to have shut shop and are just playing for stumps as the England bowlers also seem to have tired out.

India are 105 for five in 34 overs, needing another 89 runs for victory.
22:56   Kohli, Karthik take India past 100


India 101-5 (30 ovs); Target to win: 194 | Scorecard

Karthik is struck on the pads by Stokes but the leg before appeal is turned down. He then takes a single into the covers before Kohli also picks a single.

Karthik turns the last ball through midwicket for two runs to get four runs from the over.

Anderson bowls another quiet over, giving away two singles as Kohli continues to be rock solid from one end and keep the England bowlers at bay.

Karthik plays a lovely drive through the covers for a four off Stokes and then taps the next ball to point for one as the target is exactly 100 runs now.

Anderson gets a break as Broad comes back into the attack. Karthik leaves a few deliveries through to the keeper before he chases a wide one and gets a thick outside edge which flies past the slips for a four.

Kohli the wicket England need desperately to brighten their hopes for victory. So far he has looked untroubled as he keeps collecting regular singles and twos to take his score to 38 as India cross the 100-run mark, in the 30th over.

India are 101 for five in 30 overs, needing another 93 runs for victory.
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22:42   Ashwin out for 13; India lose 5th wicket


India 83-5 (25 ovs); Target to win: 194 | Scorecard

Stokes comes back into the attack. Ashwin slaps a wide delivery square on the off-side for a four and is beaten off the last ball as he tries to hit it across the line.

Kohli is unmoved as he taps Anderson on the off-side for a single before Ashwin takes a couple of steps down the pitch but gets a thick outside edge for a boundary past the slips as he chases a wide one.

The next ball is on the mark as Ashwin again chips down and pokes tentatively but the ball moves enough to take the edge and the right-hander is caught behind for 13.

Dinesh Karthik avoids the pair as he gets off the mark with a single on the off-side.

Kohli glances the last ball fine on the leg side for a four as India reach 83 for five in 25 overs, needing another 111 runs for victory.
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22:19   Rahane out for 2; India 4 down


India 67-4 (22 ovs); Target to win: 194 | Scorecard

Anderson comes back into the attack, with an hour for stumps including the half an hour extra to complete the unfinished quota of overs for the day.

Kohli takes a big stride forward and guides a wide delivery from Anderson through the covers for three runs.

In the next over, Curran gets one to go straight through as Kohli is beaten trying to defend.

The next ball comes in as Kohli is hit on the pads but the LBW call is turned down. Captain Root realises the importance of the wicket and takes the review.

The impact is line but Kohli is well forward and the ball tracker shows that the ball is bouncing over the stumps which means that the batsman survives and England lose one of their reviews.

Kohli is batting outside the crease to negate the swing of the fast bowlers and also save himself from such leg before calls.

Kohli then turns the next ball on the leg side for one and Rahane misses the flick off the last ball.

Kohli meanwhile plays out a maiden over from Anderson, who sticks to the line outside the off-stump.

The impressive Curran makes the breakthrough as Rahane gets the edge and wicketkeeper Bairstow does well to take a low catch leaning forward.

Rahane fails again in the Test match as he walks back for two with India reduced to 63 for four, needing another 131 for victory.

Ravichandran Ashwin promoted to No. 6 ahead of Dinesh Karthik and Hardik Pandya.

He gets off the mark in some style, slapping a full wide delivery through the covers for a four to get off the mark.
21:58   Rahul out for 13; India in trouble


India 59-3 (18 ovs); Target to win: 194 | Scorecard

Curran beats Kohli with one that slants across and goes up in appeal along with the slips but nothing from wicketkeeper Bairstow and the umpire rightly turns it down.

The in-form Kohli makes most of some width as he leans forward and crashes Curran through the covers for a four.

The last ball nearly sneaks through as Kohli gets the inside edge on to the pads and for a single on the off-side.

Kohli drops Stokes on the off-side for a single before Ajinkya Rahane gets two runs on the leg side to get off the mark.

Curran is made to pay for a poor delivery as Kohli punishes the wide half-volley with a cracking cover drive for a four and doesn't move at all as he watches the ball race to the boundary.

The India captain who hit a century in the first innings, looks quite confident as he has stroked his way to 23 from 33 balls, with the help of two fours.
21:56   Rahul out for 13; India in trouble


India 46-3 (15 ovs); Target to win: 194 | Scorecard

Ben Stokes comes into the attack in place of Anderson, who bowls just six overs in his first spell this time around.

Kohli has a misunderstanding with his partner after he taps the ball near the pitch and sets off immediately before deciding to pull out of the run.

The next ball bounces high as Kohli opts to leave but is hit on the arm before he drills the next ball through the covers for three runs as Buttler does well to pull it just inside the ropes and Rahul gets a single courtesy off an inside edge.

Another change as Sam Curran comes in from the other end. Rahul is hit on the pads as Curran goes up in appeal immediately but yet again the inside edge saves him.

Kohli constantly chatting to Rahul, who is on strike, advising him before every ball followed by praises after he successfully keeps it out.

Stokes is finally rewarded for his persistence. He again bowls the perfect delivery which comes in with the angle and moves away late as Rahul is committed to the defensive poke and gets the edge to be caught behind for 13.

India in trouble on 46 for three, needing another 148 runs for victory.
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21:30   Openers perish as India lose early wickets


India 39-2 (12 ovs); Target to win: 194 | Scorecard

Part 2 of the Anderson vs Kohli battle in the first Test. Kohli offers no shot to the first three balls wide of the off-stump before he nearly falls to the temptation as he pokes at one and is beaten.

He realises his error and quietly leaves the last two balls of the over.

Rahul survives a huge shout for leg before wicket off Broad as the inside edge saves the right-hander.

Two balls later he is tentative in getting forward as he tries to drive but gets a thick inside edge to the left of the keeper for a four.

India are 31 for two in 10 overs, needing another 163 runs for victory.

Kohli drives a full delivery from Anderson straight back past the bowler for a couple and then clips the third ball on the leg side for two more runs.

Rahul taps Broad on the off-side and takes a quiet single before Kohli steers it past point for a couple.

Kohli then steals another quick single before Rahul offers no stroke and the ball comes slightly in to swipe the pads before going through as England appeal for leg before wicket but to no avail.
21:22   Openers perish as India lose early wickets


India 27-2 (8 ovs); Target to win: 194 | Scorecard

Rahul gets off the pair with a risky single to mid-off as the decision is referred to the TV umpire but the batsman is safe.

The crowd are cheering loudly for the home team and a fired-up Broad delivers again with the wicket of Dhawan.

The left-hander throws his bat at a wide delivery only to get an edge and is caught behind for 13.

Virat Kohli gets off the mark with a single on the leg side before Rahul is beaten outside the off-stump.

The last ball is overpitched and Rahul does well to flick it through midwicket for a four.
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21:03   Vijay out for 6; India lose early wicket


India 19-1 (6 ovs); Target to win: 194 | Scorecard

Broad claims the early wicket for England as Vijay is trapped leg before wicket for six. He had clipped the previous delivery for a couple through midwicket but fell off the next ball as he offered no stroke to an incoming delivery and was struck on the pads with the ball going on to hit the stumps.

Vijay decides not to review the decision and makes his way back to the pavilion.

KL Rahul nearly falls for a duck again as he plays a loose shot outside the off-stump and is beaten.
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20:52   India off to a steady start after being set 194 for win


India 16-0 (5 ovs); Target to win: 194 | Scorecard

Jimmy Anderson to open the bowling for England, who will need a few early wickets or else India could run away with the contest.

Vijay gets off the mark with a single off the second ball on the off-side and Dhawan survives a leg before shout off the fifth ball before he keeps strike with a single from the last ball.

Stuart Broad to bowl the second over. Dhawan gets some width as he crashes the third ball through the off-side for the first boundary of the innings to show his positive intent right at the start.

He taps the fifth ball on the off-side and picks an easy single before Vijay blocks the last ball.

Dhawan keeps the runs coming as he turns Anderson on the leg side for another single before Vijay watchfully defends the rest of the over.

In the pacer's next over, Dhawan drives a full delivery through the covers for three runs.

Vijay (1) tries to repeat a similar shot through but gets an edge which is put down by Dawide Malan at second slip. He had put down two catches off Virat Kohli in India's first innings which proved quite costly for England.

An early lifeline for Vijay as India reach 16 for no loss in five overs, needing another 178 runs for victory.
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20:15   India need 194 to win after England bowled out for 180


Eng 180-all out (53 ovs) & 287 vs India 274 | Scorecard

No. 9 Sam Curran slammed a quickfire half-century to save England the blushes before they were bundled out for 180 in their second innings, on Day 3 of the first Test.

England set India 194 runs to win the first Test match on a pitch offering a lot of assistance to the fast bowlers.

Ishant Sharma was the pick of the Indian bowlers, as he claimed five for 51 in 13 overs, including three wickets in a single over.

Ravichandran Ashwin had run through the top order to finish with three for 59, while Umesh Yadav took two for 20.

England were struggling 187 for seven at one stage before Curran's counter-attack salvaged the situation. The 20-year-old, playing in only his second Test match, hit nine fours and two sixes in his 65-ball knock.

He had also starred with the ball for England, taking four wickets in India's first innings.
20:09   England 180 all out; India need 194 to win


Eng 176-9 (52 ovs) & 287 vs India 274 | Scorecard

The field is spread around and Curran turns down the single off the second ball after he steers Umesh to thirdman to keep lastman James Anderson off strike.

He ducks under a couple of bouncers before he pulls another short ball over mid-on for a four.

Curran edges the last ball as he tries to run it down to thirdman and is caught by Karthik for 63.
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20:05   Ishant picks 5th wicket; England 9 down


Eng 176-9 (52 ovs) & 287 vs India 274 | Scorecard

Curran clips Umesh behind square on the leg side for two runs and then takes a single off the next ball with India spreading the field around for the left-hander.

A short ball is tapped through point by Broad for two runs as the scoreboard keeps ticking.

Umesh then beats Broad two balls in a later outside the off-stump before he slaps the last ball through the off-side for a single to retain strike.

In the next over, Broad runs a wide delivery from Ishant to thirdman for one before Curran steers the next square to deep point for another single.

Ishant finally ends India's frustration as he gets Broad to edge a full delivery which moves away and this time Dhawan takes a good low catch diving to his left.

Broad walks back for 11, after a handy stand of 41 runs for the ninth wicket with Curran to boost England's hopes.
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19:54   Curran slams half-century to keep India at bay


Eng 168-8 (50 ovs) & 287 vs India 274 | Scorecard

With two left-handers out in the middle, Ashwin continues. He defends the first three balls before sweeping the fourth ball behind square for two runs.

Ashwin then bowls the quicker ball which Broad somehow keeps out and taps the last ball to square leg for one.

Umesh bowls a beauty to Broad, who is all at sea as the ball bounces and moves away, beating the edge of the bat.

The pacer then bowls a quick bouncer but it goes way over Broad and wicketkeeper Karthik for four byes.

He steers the fifth ball off the outside half of the bat for a single before Curran plays a similar shot but finer for a four.

In the next over, Curran takes on Ashwin as he lofts the off-spinner straight back over his head for a six. The next ball is again lofted down the ground but this time for a four and he sensibly takes a single from the last ball as the fielder is pushed back to long-on.

A superb counter-attack from Curran, who has smashed his way to 47 from 48 balls as England reach 160 for eight, for a lead of 173 runs.

But Curran can barely lay bat on ball in the next over. Umesh bowls a series of superb outswingers, pitched perfectly as the left-hander is beaten six balls in a row as India's fielders and the bowler wonder how he didn't edge any of them.

As expected, Ashwin makes way for Ishant after being taken for runs by Curran in his previous over.

Broad taps the first ball to point and gives the strike back to Curran. The 20-year-old left-hander shows scant respect for the veteran pacer as he takes a few steps down and makes room before smashing it high over the covers for a six to bring up his maiden Test half-century in grand style, from 54 balls.

Curran again shows good match awareness to pinch a single off the fourth ball and Broad keeps out the last two balls.
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19:34   Rashid out for 16; England lose 8th wicket


Eng 136-8 (45 ovs) & 287 vs India 274 | Scorecard

Play restarts after a 15-minute delay due to bad light. Umesh to start off with the ball for India as Rashid offers no shot to the first few balls and then takes one to fine leg and Curran picks one on the off-side.

Ashwin from the other end. Curran plays a forceful drive through the covers but is unable to find the gap before he keeps strike with one from the last ball.

Umesh to continue as he slips it down the leg side and Curran tickles it to fine leg for one.

Rashid hangs his bat out to a wide delivery and is beaten as the ball moves away quite a lot and he plays and misses again off the next ball.

Umesh then gets one to come in as Rashid is beaten all ends up to be bowled for 16.

Stuart Broad gets a yorker first up which comes in and he is able to keep it out before a thick inside edge off the next for a single.
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19:05   Bad light halts play; England 131-7


Eng 131-7 (42 ovs) & 287 vs India 274 | Scorecard

India's charge is halted by the fading light as the umpires halt play because of bad light.

England's batsmen are happy to walk off the field as they are left reeling on 131 for seven in 42 overs, with an overall lead of 144 runs.

Curran has played a vital hand with the bat, stroking his way to 30 from 35 balls, while Rashid has made 15. The duo have frustrated India, putting on an unbroken stand of 44 from 66 balls for the eighth wicket.

India have also not helped their cause, with Shikhar Dhawan putting down a couple of catches, at first slip to give both Curran and Rashid a lifeline.
18:59  


Eng 130-7 (41 ovs) & 287 vs India 274 | Scorecard

Curran throws his bat at a wide outswinger only to get an edge which Dhawan is unable to catch. Infact, it is a very difficult low catch to his left but Dhawan is late to react to give Curran (13) a lifeline off Shami's bowling.

Shami bowls a full delivery which comes in sharply as Curran plays right back and gets a thick outside edge which goes along the ground and in the gap between slips and gully for another boundary.

Curran continues to chance his arm against the pacers. Ishant slants it across the left-hander, who throws his bat, but gets an edge which flies over the slips for a four as Curran races to 25 from 27 balls.

A few deliveries later, Rashid chases a wide one from Ishant and again the edge goes for a four.

Ashwin comes into the attack, replacing Shami. He drops slightly short and Curran is quick to rock back and pull it through midwicket for a four to take his score to 30.

Umesh Yadav gets his first ball of the innings, after waiting for 40 overs. He is unlucky not to get a wicket in his very first over as Rashid gets an edge but Dhawan puts down a simple catch, which came at a good height.

Captain Kohli is not happy as Dhawan puts down his second catch at first slip in the space of a few overs.
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18:40   Ishant's triple strike leaves England in a mess


Eng 103-7 (36 ovs) & 287 vs India 274 | Scorecard

Ishant continues his wicket-taking run after the lunch break. He makes it three wickets in the over as Jos Buttler is caught behind two balls after resumption.

Buttler walks back for 1 as England slip further to 87 for seven, with an overall lead of 100 runs.

Three big wickets in an over for Ishant, including Bairstow, Stokes and Buttler, as England suffer a batting collapse on Day 3.

Left-hander Sam Curran, who played a good hand with the bat in the first innings, starts off well. He drives a full delivery from Ashwin straight down the ground for a four to get off the mark.

Ishant continues as Adil Rashid taps the third ball on the off-side for a single and Curran turns the next ball on the leg side for one.

A break for Ashwin as Shami is called back into the attack but no signs of Umesh Yadav yet in the second innings.

Curran pushes the second ball for a single before Rashid steers the fourth ball square for two runs.

Ishant loses his radar as he bowls a few down the leg side to left-hander Curran, who crashes the last ball,  a wide half-volley through the covers for a four to bring up England's 100, in the 35th over.

In the next over, he drives Shami again through the off-side for a couple but is beaten off the last ball playing a loose shot outside the off-stump.
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17:36   Ishant, Ashwin reduce England to 86-6 at lunch


Eng 86-6 (30.4 ovs) & 287 vs India 274 | Scorecard

Ishant Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin picked up three wickets each to leave England reeling on 86 for six at lunch on Day three of the first Test.

England, who resumed on nine for one, lost five wickets in the morning session for 77 runs in 27 overs.

Ashwin again set the tone for India with the early wicket on Day 3, that of Keaton Jennings for 8, caught in the slips. Captain Joe Root made 14 before he hit straight into the hands of KL Rahul at leg slip to give Ashwin his third wicket of the innings.

Ishant then left England reeling with a three-wicket burst. Getting a lot of movement, the lanky pacer hit the right areas to give England's batsmen a lot of problems and give India control with a few quick wickets.

Left-hander David Malan was caught at gully for 20, before he accounted for Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes in the final over of the session.

With an overall lead of just 99 runs, England will need the in-form Jos Buttler to take responsibility with the bat and hope that he can help them a competitive total in the company of the lower order.
17:30   Ishant leaves England in shambles


Eng 86-6 (30.4 ovs) & 287 vs India 274 | Scorecard

Bairstow looks to force a wide delivery from Ishant through the off-side but gets a thick inside edge for a boundary past the wicketkeeper.

He gets an outside edge off the last ball but this time it falls short of the fielder at first slip.

Ben Stokes, who was dismissed by Ashwin in the first innings, is quite watchful to start off with. He turns the off-spinner square on the leg side for two runs and repeats the shot two balls later for the same result and then takes one on the leg side.

India keep chipping away at the wickets. This time Ishant claims the wicket of Bairstow who gets the edge and Dhawan takes a good low catch to send back the right-hander for 28.

Two balls later, Ishant claims another big scalp, that of Stokes. The ball again moves away enough to take the edge and Kohli takes another sharp catch at third slip to send back the left-hander.

England in complete shambles on 86 for six in 30.4 overs at lunch on Day 3, with an overall lead of 99 runs.
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17:17   Ishant strikes; England 4 down


Eng 72-4 (27 ovs) & 287 vs India 274 | Scorecard

Ishant getting the ball to move away the left-hander as Malan leaves the first three balls before taking one on the leg side and Bairstow comfortably defends the last two balls.

Ashwin trying a few tricks at Malan, who has been quite assured and positive with his footwork. He does well to keep out the over from the off-spinner without any problem.

Bairstow not missing out on any opportunity to score. Ishant drops it short and wide and the England right-hander slaps it through the off-side for a four. The last ball is again short as Bairstow slashes it past fully for the second four of the over.

Malan survives a leg before shout against Ashwin in the 26th over as he looks to clip it against the line on the leg side but the umpire is not interested. He turns the last ball on the leg side for a couple.

Ishant strikes in the next over as he gets Malan is caught by Rahane at gully for 20. This time the ball was pitched on the stumps as Malan was opened up completely and he ended up getting a thick edge with Rahane holding on to a sharp chance.

England are 72 for four in 27 overs, with an overall lead of 85 runs with six wickets in hand.
16:41   Ashwin dismisses Root; England in trouble


Eng 56-3 (20 ovs) & 287 vs India 274 | Scorecard

Shami tries the short ball but Malan pulls it behind square for a four and then takes one to point.

The last ball is overpitched as Bairstow drives it through the covers for another boundary to bring up England's 50, in the 17th over.

Malan survives a leg before shout against Ashwin as the ball pitches outside the line of leg stump.

Ishant Sharma replaces Shami and he starts his first spell in the second innings with a no-ball.

The next ball comes in sharply as Bairstow gets a thick inside edge on to his pads for a single.

Ishant then produces a beauty, extra bounce and away movement as Malan is beaten all ends up. The next ball is even better as Malan plays and misses again.

Ishant finally produces the edge with the last ball of the over as Malan has a poke. Shikhar Dhawan takes a low catch a first slip which is referred upstairs and the TV umpire rules that the ball touched the ground before it was taken and Malan survives.

In the next over, Bairstow sweeps Ashwin but hits it straight into the body of Vijay at short leg. The next ball is short as the right-hander slaps it through the covers for a four.

He is caught in two minds off the last ball as he initially decides to sweep Ashwin but then somehow blocks it.
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16:32   Ashwin dismisses Root; England in trouble


Eng 40-3 (16 ovs) & 287 vs India 274 | Scorecard

Malan steers a wide delivery from Shami past the slips for a four and then takes a single on the leg side.

Ashwin bowling a good line to Malan, who has to play more often than. The left-hander picks a single off the fifth ball before Root blocks the last ball.

Shami gets some extra bounce outside the off-stump as Malan tries to smash it square but it beaten and wicketkeeper Karthik also fails to gather it.

Two balls later, Malan takes on the short ball but luckily fails to make proper connection as the ball lands short of the fielder at deep square leg for a single.

Ashwin giving it a lot of flight against Malan, who defends the first three balls before he slaps a half-volley through the covers for one and Root turns the next on the leg side for another single.

Ashwin switches to over the wicket as the ball spins across left-hander Malan, who plays down the inside line.

In the next over, Ashwin drops short as Root punches it through the covers for a four.

In the next over, Malan is beaten by Shami as he reaches out to a wide one.

Ashwin provides India with a breakthrough as he claims the key wicket of England captain Root, who is caught at leg slip by Rahul for 14.

Root glances Ashwin fine but Rahul at leg slip manages to hold on a low catch, his second good catch in a row on the third day.

New batsman Jonny Bairstow attempts a similar shot but this time the ball falls just short of the same fielder at leg slip.

Malan has no clue as he offers no shot to the last ball from Ashwin which doesn't turn and passes very close to the stumps.

England in trouble on 40 for three with a slender lead of 53 runs with seven wickets in hand.
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15:50   Ashwin strikes again; England 2 down


Eng 21-2 (8 ovs) & 287 vs India 274 | Scorecard

Ashwin strikes again and it is another left-hander. Jennings comes forward to defend but the ball turns enough to take the edge and KL Rahul at second slip takes a good sharp catch.

It's the length again which does the trick for Ashwin. The full length with a lot of flight drew Jennings forward and some sharp turn accounted for the left-hander.

Jennings walks back for eight to leave England in a spot of bother on 17 for two, with an overall lead of 31 runs.

Left-hander Dawid Malan starts off with a risky uppish drive through the covers for three runs to get off the mark.
15:44   Confident India eye early wickets on Day 3


Eng 17-1 (7 ovs) & 287 vs India 274 | Scorecard

Ravichandran Ashwin finishes his over left incomplete on Day 2 following the wicket of Alastair Cook. Joe Root blocks the first ball he faces before turning the next to fine leg to end the over with a single.

India's two best bowlers to start off the third day as Mohammed Shami comes in from the other end.

The third ball is on the pads as Root clips it through square leg for a couple and then takes one on the off-side. Jennings gets the last ball to fine leg off the inner half of the bat to end the over with a single.

The ball is just five overs old but India are happy to continue with off-spinner Ashwin.

Jennings sweeps the first ball fine for a single before Root watchfully defends against Ashwin, he tries to flick the fifth ball but can't beat midwicket before he punches a short ball on the off-side but again is unable to find the gap.

Jennings drives Shami through the off-side as Pandya does well to keep it down to one before Root clips a full delivery to fine leg for another run.

The pacer finally gets one right as Jennings plays away from his body and is beaten as the ball passes close to the edge before he lets the last ball go through.
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15:28   Confident India eye early wickets on Day 3


Eng 9-1 (3.4 ovs) & 287 vs India 274 | Scorecard

Welcome to the coverage of Day 3 of the first Test between England and India in Birmingham on Friday.

A confident India lifted by captain Virat Kohli's century on Day 2 would be hoping to pick up a few early wickets and put England under pressure in the morning session.

On Day 2, Kohli scored a gritty 149 to rescue India and leave the intriguing first Test finely balanced as England were left to rue several missed chances before they ended the second day 22 runs ahead.

With England's pace bowlers running through India's much vaunted top order to leave them reeling on 100-5, it was left to captain Kohli to string together a series of partnerships as he seemed to be on a one-man mission to overhaul England's first innings total of 287.

Making the most of the two dropped catches by England at 21 and 51, Kohli let out a huge roar in celebration after belting the ball off Ben Stokes for a boundary to bring up his century.

India's last two wickets added 92 runs before Kohli was finally last man out after he misjudged leg spinner Adil Rashid's delivery and was caught by Stuart Broad at point.

His dismissal gave England a slim 13-run first-innings lead after they bowled out the visitors for 274.

In their second innings, England lost Alastair Cook to the day's final ball as they closed on 9-1.


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