India managed to finish Day 3 on top of the second Test against England for the Anthony de Mello Trophy, at the MA Chidambaram (Chepauk) Stadium in Chennai, on Monday. The visitor has lost three wickets at stumps, while the host is seven wickets away from a win on Day 4, on Tuesday.
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Earlier, India had elected to bat first and put up 329 on the board, courtesy Rohit Sharma's 161. Meanwhile, England could only manage 134, courtesy Ravichandran Ashwin's five-for.
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Resuming at the overnight score of 541, it was the pair of Rohit and Cheteshwar Pujara, who looked to play a long innings. However, just a run later, Pujara was run out for mere seven in a dramatic fashion.
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Rohit was stumped for 26 by spinner Jack Leach at the same score, while ten runs later, wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant was dismissed for just eight by the same man in a similar fashion. It was then the pair of Kohli and vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, who took charge.
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Nonetheless, at 86, Rahane departed for just 10 to spinner Moeen Ali, after being caught by Ollie Pope at short leg. Meanwhile, 20 runs later, all-rounder Axar Patel followed his way back after falling for mere seven to the same man, who trapped him leg-before.
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Nevertheless, it was the pair of Kohli and Ashwin who have taken control of the innings. They have put up a 50-run stand for the seventh wicket, until the lunch break, as the lead is past 350.
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At the post-lunch session, Kohli and Ashwin looked to get going, with the score at 1566, while the former eventually brought up his 25th Test half-century. However, at 202, Kohli fell for 62 to Moeen after being trapped leg-before, as a 96-run stand for the seventh wicket ended.
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Just eight runs later, Kuldeep Yadav departed for only three as Moeen got similarly rid of him. Nonetheless, Ashwin continued to frustrate, along with Ishant Sharma, as he scored his 12th Test half-century, while the lead went past 400 at the tea break.
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In the post-tea session, at the score of 2218, Ashwin and Ishant look to thwart England further. However, 16 runs later, Ishant departed for just seven to Leach, after being caught by Olly Stone.
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Out came Mohammed Siraj and ensured to give Ashwin ample support as the latter scored his fifth Test century. Upon this, both batsmen went for their respective shots and produced a 49-run stand, before Ashwin gave up his wicket for 106, bowled by Stone, as the lead read 481 runs.
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As for the English bowlers, six were utilised, while Moeen and Leach were the most effective. Meanwhile, pacer Stuart Broad has been the most economical of all.
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As England came out for the chase, with just 17 runs on the board, opener Dominic Sibley fell for only three to spinner Axar Patel, after being trapped leg-before. It was followed by a 32-run stand between fellow opener Rory Burns and Daniel Lawrence, before the former departed for 25 to Ashwin, after being caught by Kohli at the first slip.
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At the score of 50, Jack Leach came in as the night watchman, but to no avail, as he fell for an unfortunate duck to Axar, after being caught by Rohit at short fine-leg. While skipper Joe Root joined Lawrence, the former survived a close LBW call in the final over of the day from Axar, before stumps was called in.As for the Indians, three bowlers have been utilised so far. Axar has been the most effective and economical one, so far.Brief scores: India 329 & 286 (Kohli 62, Ashwin 106; Leach 4100, Moeen 498) leads England 134 & 533 (Burns 25; Axar 215) by 429 runs.
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