Finance
In the third Test match between India and England at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, Rahkot on Saturday, opener Yashasvi Jaiswal scored his second century of the present series, with Shubman Gill providing assistance with an undefeated fifty to help India take a commanding lead of 322 runs.
India was missing one frontline bowler ahead of Day Three following Ravichandran Ashwin’s overnight withdrawal from the tournament due to a medical emergency in his family. However, others stepped up, Mohammed Siraj taking 4-84, aided in particular by a powerful run following lunch.
Kuldeep Yadav impressed in the morning with his pace, turn and variations to take two scalps while Ravindra Jadeja also picked two wickets and Jasprit Bumrah triggered the collapse by taking out Joe Root as England lost their remaining eight wickets for just 95 runs, giving India the 126-run lead and momentum in the match, which wasn’t a realistic possibility in the morning.
In their second innings, Jaiswal showed restraint before attacking England’s bowlers to make 104 and retired hurt shortly before stumps due to back spasms. Gill also cashed on the tiring England bowlers by batting at his own pace and remained 65 not out at stumps, with Kuldeep Yadav giving him company on three.
At the start of the final session, Jaiswal and Gill were content with tiring out England’s bowlers. But something changed in the 27th over, as Jaiswal moved from 35 off 73 balls to 49 off 76 balls, pulling and smashing Anderson for a six and two fours. He then smacked Hartley over long-on for two sixes, the first of which fetched him his fifty.
Jaiswal’s onslaught continued when he punched and swept Joe Root for boundaries, followed by lofting Rehan Ahmed for six. But the highlight was Jaiswal reverse-sweeping Ahmed for back-to-back fours. He then cut through cover-point for four to raise his century.
After lofting a six over long-off to take on Root, Gill drew Mark Wood for another maximum to secure his fifty in 98 balls. Twice Jaiswal experienced back spasms, which forced him to retire injured.
Even as Rajat Patidar pulled straight to mid-wicket and was sent out for a duck after ten balls, Gill was still hitting boundaries. In spite of this, India made 152 runs in the last session of Day Three and secured a solid hold on this Test, leaving England with little chance of winning.
Brief scores:
India 445 & 196/2 in 51 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 104, Shubman Gill 65 not out; Tom Hartley 1-42, Joe Root 1-48) lead England 319 all out in 71.1 overs (Ben Duckett 153, Ben Stokes 41; Mohammed Siraj 4-84, Ravindra Jadeja 2-51) by 322 runs
Source:IANS
