India frustrate England on Day 3 as Pujara, Rohit hit half-centuries

It was a commendable fightback from the Men in Blue on Day 3 at Headingley as the Indian batters frustrated England to finish the day on 215 for two. After a poor run of form throughout the series, Cheteshwar Pujara (91*) was amongst the runs again, putting up an 82-run partnership with Rohit Sharma (59) before adding another unbeaten 99 with the Indian captain Virat Kohli (45*).

India finished the day 139 runs behind England, but the performance from the top order has given the team a tiny glimmer of hope of a draw heading into the final two days of the match.

After their hard graft on day two, the Indian bowlers finished the job in the morning session with the two quick wickets of Craig Overton and Ollie Robinson after only nine runs were added to the overnight score.

Nevertheless, England ended with a gargantuan 432, leaving India needing 354 runs to even avoid an innings defeat. The Indian openers started cautiously, seeing off the opening spell from Jimmy Anderson and Ollie Robinson with Rahul surviving a close LBW call that was overturned when sent upstairs. The Lord’s centurion, however, didn’t look comfortable during his stay at the crease and was eventually dismissed by Overton on the stroke of Lunch after an excellent one-handed catch from Jonny Bairstow at second slip.

However, England failed to capitalize on that breakthrough in the afternoon session as they erred in their lines and lengths to allow Cheteshwar Pujara to score some quick runs and settle into his innings. Pujara got off the mark with a flick through midwicket, and India’s number three continued to feast on anything on the pads from the English bowlers. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma rode some luck before reaching his half-century with consecutive boundaries off Sam Curran as India scored 78 runs without losing any wickets in the session.

Sharma’s luck ran out after Tea with Ollie Robinson rapping the opener on his pads with a delivery that was just kissing the leg-stump. Joe Root brought on Jimmy Anderson with Virat Kohli at the crease, but the 39-year-old struggled to find the right line and length after conceding 20 runs in a two-over spell to hand the momentum back to visitors.

Pujara was more proactive throughout the day’s play and brought up his half-century of 91 balls. Kohli, at the other end, looked more in control, leaving anything outside his off-stump and punishing any loose deliveries served up by the bowlers.

The pair reached their fifty partnership off only 85 balls and finished the day with a relatively untroubled 99-run stand with Pujara nine runs away from his century as India still trailed the hosts by 139 runs.