Rohit, Pujara excel for India but England fightback leaves Test evenly poised

SCORECARD

Resuming on their overnight 43/0 in overcast conditions, India had the perfect start as openers KL Rahul and Rohit saw through the first hour. Awaiting the bad delivery, the pair were quick to punish those to keep the scoreboard ticking as they added 36 runs in the first hour.

James Anderson, as he often does, struck for England just as Rahul was approaching his half-century. Initially given not-out by the umpire, the replays showed that Rahul had edged the ball to the keeper, and India were 83/1.

Cheteshwar Pujara joined Rohit at the crease, and the duo ensured there were no further hiccups for the rest of the session. At Lunch, India had a lead of nine, having reached 108/1.

The pair continued their excellent run in the second session, with Pujara, in particular, adopting an aggressive approach early on. That mantle passed to Rohit as he neared his eighth Test century, the opener taking a particular liking to Moeen Ali's off-spin.

He reached the mark with typical flourish, tonking Ali for a six down the ground, highlighting what has been a successful series with the bat for the opener with the all-important century. Pujara was also on the verge of a half-century on 48*, as the visitors ended the session on 199/1, with a lead of exactly 100 runs.

Pujara would bring up his half-century, continuing his form from his excellent 91 at Headingley. The Indians looked set for a big total with the pair of Rohit and Pujara looking largely untroubled.

But the introduction of the second new ball would bring about a change in the landscape of the contest. Ollie Robinson delivered a brilliant over, first dismissing Rohit Sharma for 127. He followed that up with the wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara for 61, and India found themselves in trouble with two fresh batsmen at the crease.

Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja had a tricky proposition on their hands – the floodlights were on due to overcast conditions, and the English pacers were buoyed by the quick dismissals. The lead was yet to cross the 150-run mark.

But the pair countered the conditions expertly, with Kohli looking in good touch. The light dipped further, however, with England having to bowl spin from both ends.

It wasn't long before play was suspended due to bad light, and it was stumps shortly thereafter, with Kohli (22*) and Jadeja (9*) set to resume on what is expected to be an exciting fourth morning.