Chennai: Contrasting unbeaten half centuries by
stubborn Cheteswar Pujara and counter-attacking innings by
left hander Rishab Pant helped India reach 154 for four at
tea on the third day of the first cricket test match against
England here today.
While a dogged Pujara remained unbeaten on 53 (111 balls,
7×4), Pant was on 54 with four sixers and four fours in 40 balls.
The duo have added 81 in 14.3 over for the unbroken fifth
wicket and India still 225 runs behind, to make England
bat again.
After the loss of openers in the previous session, India
lost two more quick wickets as the pitch showed signs of
wearing, with the ball stopping, drifting and bouncing,
giving good purchase for spinners, especially off spinner
Dom Bess, who accounted for both skipper Virat Kohli (11,
48 balls) and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane (1, 6 balls) in
a span of ten deliveries.
Kohli was drawn forward to a flighted delivery from Bess
which bounced and the inside edge was held by Ollie Pope
at forward short lead and Rahane was undone by a superb
catch by England skipper Joe Root, who dived full stretch
to his left to take an one handed catch at covers as India
were in deep trouble at 73 for four.
However, Pant, undeterred by the situation, counter
attacked and targetted the spinners, especially left
armer Jack Leach, hoisting him for four sixers, with
Pujara too taking on him scoring 23 off 20 balls in
his 53.
It was an entertaining session as both Pant and Pujara
went hard at the spinners in their own different ways,
to out some pressure on the bowlers, with Root using
his spearheads James Anderson and Jofra Archer in
short spells.
Following is the scoreboard :
England (first innings) : 578.
India (first innings) :
Rohit Sharma c Butler b Jofra Archer 6
Shubman Gill c James Anderson b Jofra Archer 29
Cheteswar Pujara (batting) 53
Virat Kohli c Pope b Dom Bess 11
Ajinkya Rahane c Root b Dom Bess 1
Rishab Pant (batting) 54
Total : 154 for four in 41 overs.
Fall of wickets : 1-19, 2-44, 3-71, 4-73,
Bowling :
James Anderson 9-3-21-0
Jofra Archer 10-2-37-2
Ben Stokes 3-1-9-0
Jack Leach 6-0-59-0
Dom Bess 13-1-28-2