Middle-order batsman Ollie grinds his way to an unbeaten 148 to keep England alive at 316-6 against India as visitors lead hosts by 126 runs at stumps on Day Three
England’s Ollie Pope celebrates his century during Day Three of the first Test against India in Hyderabad on Saturday. Pic/PTI
Having been under the pump for the first two days, England showcased spark and spunk in equal measure to make the moving day of the first Test their own at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium.
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Ollie’s fifth Test century
Ollie Pope led their fightback with a stirring fifth century that drove India to frustration, overturning a 190-run deficit into a 126-run advantage at close on Saturday, which the visitors reached on an impressive 316 for six. While the lead isn’t decisive on a pitch that has gotten progressively slower, England will believe they have enough to fight with if they can extend it by another 75 runs.
Also Read: England fight to reach 89 for one at lunch on Day 3 after India make gritty 436
India failed to add substantially to their overnight 421 for seven, losing their last three wickets without the addition of a single run to be bowled out for 436. Ravindra Jadeja was the third Indian batsman to fall in the 80s, and the way Axar Patel was dismissed to bring the innings to a close—bowled playing back to a Rehan Ahmed leg-break that scooted through—suggested England would have a huge fight on their hands.
As has become their wont in the last two years, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett came out all guns blazing, the latter especially ferocious as he unveiled a series of reverse-sweeps. Indeed, the reverse was England’s most productive stroke, Pope taking a leaf out of the Duckett book and compiling a tome of his own during an unbeaten 148 that he will cherish for a long time.
India’s three-pronged spin attack appeared clueless at times, not attacking the stumps enough and let down by lethargic fielding. Indeed, had it not been for a sensational post-lunch spell by Jasprit Bumrah when he accounted for the well-set Duckett and Joe Root in the space of eight deliveries, India’s plight would have been a lot worse.
R Ashwin had effected the initial breakthrough by having Crawley caught at slip, but Duckett and Pope continued to counter-attack while adding 68 for the second in just 57 deliveries, when Bumrah returned India into the contest.
Ashwin dismisses Stokes
Jadeja foxed Jonny Bairstow with a ball that went on with the arm and Ashwin produced a peach to evict a strangely becalmed Ben Stokes; at 163 for five, trailing by 27, England had their backs to the wall, but they also had Pope, who came charging to their rescue.
Alongside the feisty Ben Foakes, Pope realised 112 for the sixth wicket, reiterating how difficult it was to prise batsmen out when the ball got old and soft. Occasionally, the right-hander rode his luck—he was also dropped by Axar reversing Jadeja on 110—but largely, he made his own luck. That No. 8 Rehan Ahmed had so much time to negotiate even Bumrah was indicative of how slow the surface had become; the million-dollar question is whether any demons at all will surface on Day Four.
Brief scores
England 246 & 316-6 (O Pope 148*, B Duckett 47; J Bumrah 2-29, R Ashwin 2-93) v India 436 (R Jadeja 87, KL Rahul 86, Y Jaiswal 80, A Patel 44, S Bharat 41; J Root 4-79, R Ahmed 2-105, T Hartley 2-131)
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