Cook, Root power England with 154-run lead in 2nd innings

England has taken a strong lead of 154 runs and have 8 wickets in hand to take it further dynamically.

After bowling out India for 292 in the first innings, England have taken a healthy lead of 154 runs by the end of the 3^rd day of the final Test at the Oval. Skipper Joe Root was batting on 29 while Alastair Cook remained unbeaten at 46. The duo will resume the innings at 114/2 on Monday.

Cook, who is playing the last innings of his career, went off to a decent start in the second innings along with his partner Keaton Jennings. They both piled up 20 runs without a loss till the tea break was taken.

After tea, the Indians found a reason to smile as Mohammed Shami bowled out Jennings on 10. Moeen Ali was the next man who joined Cook at the crease and both played some good cricket to add 35 runs for the second wicket before Jadeja struck in the 28^th over.

Jadeja pitched the ball well outside off which went on to hit a footmark and turned-in massively to dislodge the wickets. Ali was the last wicket scalped by India on day 3. He had to return to the dressing room after scoring 20 individual runs.

 

Indian innings on day 3

Despite removing the Indian top order early on the second day, the English bowlers struggled to get rid of the tail-enders. After resuming the innings at 174 for 6, debutant Hanuma Vihari and Ravindra Jadeja frustrated the hosts for almost the entire first session as they added stitched a partnership of 77 runs for the 7 wickets.

Meanwhile, Vihari became the 26^th Indian batsman to score a half-century in a debut game. The way he showcased his class, he was expected to convert his fifty into a memorable ton. Unfortunately, he was removed by Moeen Ali in the 77^th over. He ended up scoring 56 valuable runs off 124 deliveries.

Though the Englishmen got rid of Vihari, their struggle story continued in the second session as well. Ravindra Jadeja took the charge of hitting runs and kept on reducing the score difference. While batting along Ishant Sharma, he got the 9^th fifty of his Test career which he celebrated in that ‘sword-swinging’ style.

India then went on lose Ishant Sharma (4) and Mohammed Shami (1) in the next few overs but Jadeja kept his blade assailing the English bowling attack.

Jasprit Bumrah once played a supportive knock till he was there at the crease. He faced 14 bowls without adding a single run to his name. In the 95^th over he got run out which not only ended the Indian innings but also restricted Jadeja to get his maiden Test century as he remained unbeaten on 86 and eventually, turned out to be the highest run scorer of the team.

India were bundled up for 292, handing over a 40-run lead to England.

Brief scores:

England: 332 and 114/2 in 43 overs (Alastair Cook 46 batting, Joe Root 29 batting)

India 1st innings: 292 all out in 95 overs (Ravindra Jadeja 86 not out, Hanuma Vihari 56).