4th Take a look at: Joe Root, Ben Stokes Put England On High, Lengthen Lead To 186 Runs At Stumps On Day 3
Joe Root made a scintillating 150 and have become the second-highest run-scorer in Exams, whereas skipper Ben Stokes got here after hobbling off as a result of a cramp and be unbeaten on 77 because the duo performed large roles in England taking a considerable 186-run lead over India on day three of fourth Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Take a look at at Previous Trafford on Friday.
Resuming from 225/2, England added a whopping 319 runs for the lack of 5 wickets. However the spotlight of day three’s play was Root combining the precision of a surgeon and composure of an artist to overhaul Jacques Kallis, Rahul Dravid and Ricky Ponting for being at second place in all-time Take a look at run-scorers’ listing by his thirty eighth Take a look at hundred.
He additionally shared a 144-run stand with Ollie Pope, who made 71, earlier than Stokes made his highest batting rating of this collection. With Stokes and Liam Dawson (21 not out) on the crease, England might be hopeful of constructing the lead and pile extra distress on a hapless Indian bowling line-up, who missed their lengths, bereft of perfect techniques, and gave away simple runs.
If this wasn’t sufficient, then Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj needed to go off the sphere at instances throughout second session as a result of ankle issues, although the previous did come again to the sphere. On a day the place they conceded a complete above 500 for the primary time after 2021, India are actually looking at a large problem to stage a comeback into the match.
The morning session started sedately earlier than Root flicked Bumrah for 4, and was adopted by him and Pope taking a boundary every off Siraj. Root survived a run-out probability on 22 when Jadeja’s throw from level was off track. So as to add to India’s agony, neither mid-off or mid-on backed as much as the stumps.
The duo continued to take boundaries off India’s frontline pacers earlier than Pope reached his sixteenth Take a look at fifty off 93 balls. As quickly as Root crossed 31, he went previous Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis to be the third main run-getter in Exams.
When India lastly received off-spin all-rounder Washington Sundar to bowl from 69th over, Root introduced up his 104th fifty-plus rating off 99 balls, earlier than lunch break arrived. Submit lunch, Sundar struck as Pope seemed to information the spinner by the leg-side, however received a thick edge behind and KL Rahul took catch at slip to dismiss the batter.
India’s determination to not take the brand new ball and stick with Washington paid off when he received the ball to dip away from Harry Brook within the air, leaving the batter stranded and substitute keeper Dhruv Jurel accomplished the stumping to dismiss him for simply three. Root and Ben Stokes hitting a couple of boundaries meant England lastly received into taking the all-important lead.
After spending 18 balls within the 90s, a clip down the leg-side off Anshul Kamboj on the primary ball of 96th over introduced up Root’s second century of the continuing collection and twelfth ton towards India. He soaked up the loud applause from the group shouting ‘ROOOOT’ round Previous Trafford.
The chance for the group to applaud and shout in Root’s reward once more got here within the a hundred and first over when Root guided Kamboj for a single behind level and go previous Ponting to change into the second-highest all-time run-scorer in Exams, earlier than tea break got here.
The ultimate session started with Jasprit Bumrah taking the bowling duties, however didn’t take a look at his finest self. Root continued to be at his finest by driving Shardul Thakur previous mid-on for 4, earlier than Stokes creamed a half-volley from Bumrah by cowl for an additional boundary.
After notching up his thirty sixth half-century, Stokes reverse-swept Ravindra Jadeja for 4, earlier than pulling Washington Sundar for an additional boundary. After feeling some discomfort in his left calf within the a hundred and fifteenth over, Stokes retired harm on the finish of the 116th over on 66 off 116 balls, with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) saying the all-rounder is coping with a cramp.
After registering his sixteenth 150-plus rating in Exams, Root’s very good innings got here to an finish on precisely 250 when he was stumped off a ripper of a supply from Jadeja that spun and bounced previous the skin edge.
Bumrah then got here again and struck together with his first ball which nipped away to take the sting off a poking Jamie Smith and Jurel took a sensible low diving ahead catch, making this the quick bowling spearhead’s fiftieth in Exams in England.
Siraj received himself into the wicket-takers’ listing by getting the ball to remain low and took the within fringe of Chris Woakes’ bat earlier than crashing into the stumps. Stokes returned to bat and ensured with Dawson that no extra wickets had been misplaced in what was a commanding day of Take a look at cricket for England.
