India needed KL Rahul to deliver to get a handy first-innings lead and the opener fulfilled the team’s expectations. India resumed Day 3 with 125-4 and the test match was heading towards an exciting phase. However, play stopped due to rain after a couple of overs into the third day’s action. As a result, players from both sides had to wait for an hour before play resumed.
Rishabh Pant started brightly as he played aggressively and smashed a couple of boundaries off Robinson’s bowling. He reached 25 in no time and it looked like Pant was aiming to close the first-innings lead as soon as possible. However, the English players had a trap set and Pant fell for it as he instinctively hit a shot straight towards the cover fielder.
Therefore England was relieved after getting the dangerous Pant back to the pavilion. Although to England’s despair Jadeja came through and batted beautifully alongside KL Rahul. The two Indian batters despatched the bad deliveries and were scoring at a good rate. Consequently, India took a first-innings lead before lunch.
As both batsmen were set it looked like India would comfortably head towards a big first-innings lead. However, just like Day 2 after lunch, India lost wickets in quick succession. Early after lunch, Rahul got out after scoring a terrific knock of 84 runs. Few overs later Shardul departed for nought. Once again Anderson was the one providing England with some respite by taking two quick wickets.
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Jadeja and Indian lower-order batsmen help India get a crucial 95 run lead over England
After two quick wickets, Jadeja decided to pressurize English bowlers by attacking them. He started scoring freely and reached his half-century in no time. Though soon after reaching his half-century Jadeja lost his wicket to Robinson while trying to get those quick runs as he sliced it high towards mid-off. He got out after scoring a well made 56 and helped India stretch their lead.
Therefore it was up to the Indian tailenders to get the team some valuable runs. And the lower order became a thorn to the English side as they started to add some runs. Bumrah started swinging and scored 15 runs off Sam Curran’s over. Resulting in England’s frustration, Jasprit Bumrah scored a valuable contribution of 28 runs before getting out to Robinson. Hence India ended their innings at 278 and got a first innings lead of 95 runs.
Thereafter English openers played well and added 25 runs to the board without losing any wicket before the rain came into play once again. As a result, the play was stopped and Day three was cut short. To summarise the day’s play KL Rahul and Jadeja helped India get an impressive first-innings lead. On the other hand, Robinson and James Anderson helped England to stay in the game as the two bowlers shared nine wickets.
In the end, India will have an upper hand going into day four. However, England is not completely out of the test match as a good opening partnership on day four will help the team head towards a draw. By the looks of it, the test match is heading towards a draw but if England lose early wickets tomorrow then India stands a great chance to win the first test match.
