England find themselves in a perfect position at the end of day 3, with Dom Bess taking 4 wickets to leave India 257/6 still needing 121 to avoid the follow on.
The tourists first action of the day was adding another 23 runs to their overnight total, Bess 34 and Jack Leach’s 14* helping the total to 578 all out.
India’s chase failed to start positivly, Jofra Archer claiming the wicket of Rohit for 8, the extra bounce found the edge to Buttler, 19/1.
Shubman Gill made batting look simple whilst at the crease, finding the boundary with ease. Ultimately falling for 29 off only 28 deliveries. Archer again getting the wicket, James Anderson driving forward at mid off to claim the catch.
Both of Archers wicket taking deliveries came directly after being hit to the boundary from the ball previous.
England’s pace bowlers where being hit to the boundary multiple times, and despite taking both morning session wickets, were milked for runs.
The massive wicket of Virat Kohli came after lunch. The Indian captain out for only 11. Dom Bess getting the better of him with a straight one that was inside edged to the ever reliable Ollie Pope at short leg.
The fourth wicket fell soon after, Bess again the bowler but Rahane out caught thanks to a ‘Superman’ dive from Joe Root, diving to his left taking a superb one handed catch. India left at 73/4 after Rahane was dismissed for 1.
Run were hard to come by in the first hour after lunch, only 14 coming before drinks. That changed though as Rishabh Pant was next man in.
The wicketkeeper batsman is gaining fans all over the world with his counterattacking batting style. First smashing Jofra Archer for successive boundaries, before orchestrating a destructive onslaught to Jack Leach. The left arm spinner hit for five maximums by Pant.
Leach’s figures for the day stood at 0-84 from his 11 overs.
The fifth wicket partnership stood at 131 as Bess picked up his third wicket. Another wicket to add to a clip package, as a short ball was pulled by Pujara, taking a deflection off the back of Ollie Pope at short leg, looping helpfully to Rory Burns at midwicket.
Rishabh Pant continued his attack, only to become Bess’ fourth victim of the innings. On 91, he advanced down the track, looping the ball high in the air for Jimmy Anderson to catch the ball at Long on.
England burned two reviews late in the day, Washington Sundar leaving most balls from Leach, with both LBW reviews missing the wickets.
Sundar was then dropped on 25, a long heave offered up a chance to Archer who, whilst running backwards failed to collect the ball over his shoulder
Sundar and Ravi Ashwin navigated India the last hour to the close on 257/6. A deficit of 321
England will be hoping to claim the last four wickets of the Indian first innings early on day 4, with plans surly to bat the hosts out the game in the first part of tomorrow, with hopes of having four sessions to bowl out the hosts again and claim a historical victory.
Mehdi Daley Sport 