A scintillating ton from Yashasvi Jaiswal backed up India's bowlers' good show on the third day as the hosts got into a strong position.
Jaiswal found an able ally in Shubman Gill with whom he put on a 158-run stand before he was forced to retire hurt due to back spasms. The duo had joined hands when Rohit Sharma was out LBW with India on 30 in the second innings. Just as England were beginning to dream about a comeback, the hopes were snuffed out by a clinical partnership.
Gill began his innings on a fluent note but proceeded to rein himself in when England bowled to their fields, and complemented his equally circumspect partner. Jaiswal saw through 73 balls for his 35 but suddenly decided to unleash himself, carting the veteran James Anderson for boundaries and kickstarting a period of dominance.
He swept, lofted and reverse-swept the spinners constantly and raced away to a hundred of just 122 balls. His second ton of the series, and third overall in Tests, elicited a big leap in celebration. But that in turn proved to damage his back as he was forced to retire hurt after a stroke-filled 104.
As Jaiswal went hammer and tongs, Gill quietly played a mature hand in racking up his second fifty-plus score of the series as India's lead swelled past 300. But they fumbled towards the end of the day with Jaiswal having to retire hurt and Rajat Patidar getting dismissed to a long hop for the second time in the Test.
It threatened to derail the good work done by them earlier in the day where they had managed to prise out a 126-run first innings lead with some inspired bowling. Despite the absence of R Ashwin, India's four-man attack was lively on the third day, producing chances as the track started taking some turn. Kuldeep Yadav, in particular, proved to be a constant threat getting two wickets for his efforts in the morning session.
The day began with Jasprit Bumrah bagging Joe Root's wicket for the ninth time in Tests with the batter's attempted reverse-scoop nestling in the hands of Yashasvi Jaiswal at second slip. Kuldeep then had one turning in sharply to trap Jonny Bairstow LBW plumb in front.
He had one more when Duckett, against the run of play, hit a long hop straight to short cover to bring down the curtains on a monumental innings.
That wicket forced England to be cautious for a while with Ben Stokes and Ben Foakes being circumspect before taking calculated risks. The duo stayed put with a watchful stand as England chipped away at the deficit. Early in the second session, however, Stokes tried to take on Ravindra Jadeja and ended up holing out to long on. It turned out to be a double strike as Foakes chipped the next one, from Siraj, to mid on.
The lower order slipped up quickly thereafter with Siraj yorking both Rehan Ahmed and James Anderson while Tom Hartley was out stumped against Jadeja, giving India a useful lead.
Copyright © Batbricks7© 2020