IND vs ENG, 1st Test, Day 3: Pope’s brilliant ton gives England hope

India were bowled out for 436 in their first innings after building a lead of 190 runs

Hyderabad: Ollie Pope produced one of the finest knocks of his career on his way to an unbeaten 148 to give England a crucial 126-run lead over India on the third day of the first Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad, on Saturday.

After England restricted India to 436 in the first innings in the morning session, Pope employed reverse-sweeps ploy to thwart Indian spinners. He added crucial 112 runs in the company of Ben Foakes (34) for the sixth wicket that could well determine the outcome of the match. At stumps, England were at 316/6 in 77 overs. Pope was batting in the company of Rehan Ahmed (16 batting).

---

For the hosts bowlers, it was a disappointing outing as they failed to get through the English batting line-up. In the end, the day’s honours wre slightly tilted in favour of the visitors as their batters showed better application from their first innings. But much would depend on how many runs more Pope and England can add to their total on a pitch that will assist spinners on going into the fourth day.

Earlier, India’s innings lasted just 54 minutes in the morning session losing the last three wickets for a mere 15 runs. Overnight batters Ravindra Jadeja (87 from 180; 7×4, 2×60) missed a century as he was dismissed in the 10th over of the day by Joe Root as lbw. Root then got the next ball to sneak through Jasprit Bumrah’s bat and pad to castle his stumps. In the next over, Rehan Ahmed bowled Axar as India lost three wickets without adding a run. For England, Root returned as their most successful bowler with 4/79 bowling figures. Rehan Ahmed and Tom Hartley picked up two wickets apiece.

England openers Jack Crawley and Ben Duckett began well in the second innings adding 45 runs in nine overs. Crawley then edged Ashwin to Rohit Sharma at slips in the 10th over. But Duckett employed reverse sweep to good effect, especially against Axar, hitting him for boundaries.

In the post-lunch session, Duckett (47) survived a close call when the umpire denied Bumrah on an lbw appeal and Indians decided not to challenge the decision. But the replays showed the ball hitting the leg-stumps. However, Bumrah returned to send the batters’ off stump cart-wheeling to end the 68-run second-wicket stand. He then trapped Joe Root (2) in front in his next over to reduce the visitors to 117/3 in 21 overs.

Jadeja then sent Bairstow back to pavilion with a ball that turned in to hit his off-stump. At the other end, Pope continued to plunder Indian spinners. He hit Ashwin for a boundary to reach his half-century in 54 balls. Captain Ben Stokes’ 33-ball stay ended when Ashwin’s beat Stokes’ defence to rattle his stumps.

Despite wickets falling at the other end, Pope refused to budge. He found an able partner in Ben Foakes, who showed tremendous grit tackling the Indian spinners. Pope’s reversweeps threw the Indian spinners off their plan. He reached his fifth Test ton – first against India – in 154 balls. With the help of Foakes, he added 112 runs for the sixth wicket which lasted 183 deliveries. Axar finally broke through the defence of Foakes (34 off 81 balls; 3×4) to break the partnership.