The third day of the first Test between Indian and England end with 257/6 for India. The match is almost in the hand of the visitors when Pujara and Pant helped India to stay alive in the match. England ends their first inning with 578 runs on board and also made the hosts think for the new strategies to stay in the field.
The openers Rohit Sharma and Shubhmin Gill went back to the pavilion before the lunch. After which the responsibility of taking far India’s inning was on the shoulders of Pujara and skipper Kohli. But Kohli loses his wicket just for 11-runs against Dom Bess’s ripper.
Bess, in his next over trapped India’s vice-captain Ajikya Rahane and sent him back just for 1 run. Thanks to young Indian wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant and wall of Test cricket Cheteshwar Pujara helped India to stand again by scoring brilliant half-centuries. Pujara played a knock of 73-runs while Pant played a fast inning of 91 and got trapped by Dom Bess. Pant scored 91-runs in just 88 balls with the help of 9 boundaries and 5 sixes.
Washington Sundar also helped Pant to settle a small partnership for the 6th wicket. At the end of the day, India stands with 257 runs on board with losing six of their top players. Sundar and Ashwin are still in the crease with some hopes for India to surpass the follow-on. Both all-rounders played more than 50 balls, Sundar is playing at the inning of 33-runs and Ashwin stands at 8-runs.
For England, Dom Bess picked 4 crucial wickets including Pujara and Pant and Archer sent back 2 batsmen to the pavilion.