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Chennai, Feb 7: Cheteshwar Pujara (73) and Rishabh Pant (91) were the only positives with the bat as India reached 257/6 at the end of play on day three of the opening Test against England at MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday (February 7).
On a day that witnessed fall of eight wickets, Dom Bess and Jofra Archer shined with the ball for the tourists as the duo gave massive jolts to the star-studded Indian batting line up and picked up six wickets before the umpires called for the close of play. India still trail England by 321 runs and face a monumental task of scoring another 121 runs to avoid follow-on after England scored 578 in their first innings.
The tourists, who were in a commanding position on 555-8 at stumps on a day which saw the imperious Root take centre stage once again with his knock of 218, started the day's play with Dominic Bess (28*) and Jack Leach (7*). Jasprit Bumrah and R Ashwin quickly wrapped up the English innings in a little over 40 minutes in the morning session as the tourists batted for 190.1 overs in their first innings.
In response, the Indians had a disastrous start as their openers Rohit Sharma (6) and Shubaman Gill (29) were dismissed in quick succession by star English speedster Jofra Archer before lunch break.
In the post-lunch session, off-spinner Dom Bess gave the hosts back-to-back jolts as he got rid of skipper Virat Kohli (11) and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane (1) in quick succession and pushed the home side on the back foot.
Later, in-form Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara revived the innings and shared a brilliant century stand and counter-attacked the tourists with their trademark batting style. Both Pant (91) and Pujara (73) slammed respective half-centuries but they too fell in quick succession off Bess as the hosts were pushed further to the wall. The duo was looking poised for a big knock on the sluggish Chepauk pitch but failed to convert their fifties into centuries and helped Joe Root and his boys script a comeback.
Later, local boys R Ashwin (8*) and Washington Sundar (33*) prevented the fall of any further wicket and stitched a partnership of 32 runs as they weathered 104 deliveries. England must be pretty happy with their performance on day three as they kept the big Indian guns silent and got top-six wickets in 74 overs. They would now be looking to wrap-up India's first innings as soon as possible on day four and give themselves a chance of winning the match by an innings.
Here's how day three panned out at Chepauk:
That's Stumps! India are 257/6 after 74 overs and they still trail England by 321 runs. Washington Sundar - 33* and R Ashwin - 8* go unbeaten with a partnership of 32 runs. England must be happy with their performance with the ball. Dom Bess was the star with the ball for the tourists as he picked up wickets of Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Cheteshwar Pujara and Rishabh Pant.
After 72 overs, Team India are 252/6. Jofra Archer has been brought into the attack by captain Root as stumps approaches.
Rishabh Pant's dismissal has put a brake on the flow of runs for the Indians. They have reached 235/6 after 63 overs.
No batsman has been dismissed in the nervous 90s more than Pant.
Rishabh Pant has now been dismissed in the 90s four times in his Test career. Since he made his debut, no other batsmen has been dismissed more than twice between 90 and 99. #IndvEng
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) February 7, 2021
Wicket! Rishabh Pant falls for 91 as he tries to clear Dom Bess over long-off but fails to connect it and Jack Leach takes a simple catch. 4th wicket for Bess, what a match he's having? India - 225/6, they still trail by 353 runs and England have got the breakthrough they were looking for.
Pant spurns a century yet again, falling to a pre-meditated stroke against Bess. When it doesn’t come off, looks grotesque, but that’s how he plays. What’s undeniable is India’s slide further into the doldrums
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) February 7, 2021
Poor shots from Rahane and Pujara have hurt the Indians.
Both Rahane and Pujara dismissed off poor shots to punishable deliveries. India getting deeper into a hole. Meanwhile Pant’s pyrotechnics causing Leach existential problems
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) February 7, 2021
SIX!! Pant seems unfazed with the fall of Pujara as he charges down the track and dispatches Jack Leach for a maximum. With that came 200 for the Indians, but they've lost 5 wickets in the process.
Rishabh Pant becomes the first Indian batsman to hit more than four sixes against England in an innings.#IndvEng#IndvsEng#IndvsEng2021
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) February 7, 2021
Big Wicket! Cheteshwar Pujara is dismissed in an unlucky fashion as he tried to pull Dom Bess but the ball hit the fielder at forward short-leg, Ollie Pope, and bounced straight into the hands of Rory Burns. A fine innings from Pujara came to an end for 73. India - 192/5.
100-run partnership between Pujara and Pant with that pull shot off Dom Bess, which raced towards the mid-wicket boundary. It came at a very crucial time for the hosts as their top-four had fallen under hundred. India - 177/4 after 67 overs.
Pujara once again gets a blow on the middle finger of his right hand. It was a pacy delivery from Archer which hit the India batsman's finger. The physio rushed into the middle to have a look at it. Pujara seems to be fine and he's ready to bat again.
Four! Cheteshwar Pujara hits Jofra Archer straight down the ground and gets a boundary.
FOUR! Pant stands tall and punches it through covers off the back foot, second boundary from that Anderson over.
Four! James Anderson comes into the attack and Rishabh Pant welcomes him with a boundary towards the cover-point region.
Play resumes! Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara are back into the middle for the third session. Jofra Archer to start proceedings for England.
Tea Break, Day 3: India 154/4 in 41 overs, trail England by 424 runs. 95 runs came in that session and lost a couple of wickets. 81-run stand between Pant (54*) and Pujara (53*).
Fifty! Rishabh Pant too joins the party as he hits Leach for a boundary over long-off and gets to his half-century. India - 153/4 in 40 overs.
Fifty! Cheteshwar Pujara hits Jack Leach for a boundary towards long-off and completes his 29th half-century off 106 balls.
Four! Pujara walks down the track and hits Leach for a boundary towards mid-wicket.
Not Out! Appeal for catch and run out of Pujara. The TV umpire confirmed it was a bump catch and Pujara was well inside the crease before the wickets were disturbed.
SIX!!! Rishabh Pant hits Jack Leach over long-on for a maximum, his fourth of the innings. With that came 53-run stand between him and Pujara.
India reach 120/4 in 35 overs. Pant - 35* and Pujara - 38*.
SIX!! Another maximum for Rishabh Pant off Leach and that also brings up 100 for India.
SIX!!! Rishabh Pant charges down the track and hammers Jack Leach over long-on and to get a maximum.
Four, Four! Back-to-back boundaries from Cheteshwar Pujara's bat off Dom Bess. India - 92/4.
Four, Four! Back-to-back boundaries for Rishabh Pant off Jofra Archer.
Rishabh Pant is into the middle pretty early.
Wicket! Unbelievable catch by Joe Root as he dives towards his left and takes a superb catch to end Ajinkya Rahane's innings for 1. Dom Bess gets the second wicket and India are 73/4. Root can do nothing wrong in this match. The English are in total control at the moment.
Root isn’t supposed to be in the air.... #IndvEng pic.twitter.com/p54ul4yp5q
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) February 7, 2021
BIG WICKET! Virat Kohli (11) tried to defend Dom Bess but an alert Ollie Pope took a sharp catch at forward-short-leg. The off-spinner picks his first wicket in India and that too of the India skipper. India - 71/3.
After 22 overs, India reach 69/2. Kohli - 10*, Pujara - 24* have forged a partnership of 25 runs for the third wicket. The run-scoring has been slow for the Indians as English pacers have kept things tight.
2nd session! Play resumes as Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara walk into the middle for batting. Anderson starts the proceedings with the ball for England.
