Inspired by a late strike by their bowlers, England managed to turn the momentum towards them as India reached 319/4 at stumps on day three of the opening Test at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium here on Friday. In reply to England’s first innings knock of 537, India rode on defiant centuries by opener Murali Vijay (126) and local boy Cheteshwar Pujara (124), who stitched a 209-run stand for the second wicket after opener Gautam Gambhir (29) was sent back in the morning session. Both Pujara and Vijay reached their respective tons in the post-tea session as the duo took India to 277/1 before being separated by pacer Ben Stokes. [caption id=“attachment_3101904” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Alastair Cook and Virat Kohli. AP[/caption] Pujara, who hit 17 boundaries in his 206-ball knock, attempted a shortish ball outside the off stump from Stokes only to land in skipper Alastair Cook’s hands at wide slip. Pujara’s wicket brought in skipper Virat Kohli (26 not out), who along with Vijay added 41 runs for the third wicket before leg-spinner Adil Rashid sent back the Tamil Nadu right-hander. Vijay, who switched gears after reaching his career’s seventh century, blasted nine boundaries and four sixes in his 301-ball innings. Vijay’s vigil was over minutes before the close of play after he mistimed a googly from the leggie which popped off the glove straight to Haseeb Hameed at short leg. Night-watchman Amit Mishra then joined Kohli but the leg-spinner could only last two deliveries and fell to left-armer Zafar Ansari before the stumps were drawn for the day. Kohli, on the other hand, consumed 70 deliveries for his 26 which contained three hits to the fence. Earlier, Pujara and Vijay continued to bat steadily as India reached 228/1 at tea. Pujara weathered some rough attention from the England pacers in the early part of his inning and was unbeaten on 99 when tea was called. Vijay was batting on 86 at the other end. The day did not start too brightly for the hosts. Gambhir and Vijay, who produced an opening stand of 68, could only add five runs to India’s overnight score when the Delhi southpaw was trapped leg before by Stuart Broad on 29. Gambhir moved too far across his stumps and was hit on his pads in front of the middle and off stumps. The Delhi left-hander, who has made a comeback to the Test squad after a prolonged absence, hit four boundaries during his 72-delivery stay in the middle. Pujara then joined Vijay and the duo ensured that the hosts lost no more wickets and at lunch had compiled an unbeaten partnership of 94 runs. Pujara did face some trouble against the England pacers, particularly Chris Woakes, who rapped him three times on the helmet. Both Pujara and Vijay were much better against the England spinners, however, and Vijay brought up his half-century in style with a six over long-on off left-arm spinner Zafar Ansari. Vijay, however, was lucky to survive on three occasions, getting a leading edge when looking to drive Ansari against the turn, edging Woakes wide of slip, and not picking a Rashid delivery in the last over before lunch. After lunch, Pujara and Vijay batted steadily, albeit a bit slowly to add 66 runs by the tea break to further consolidate India’s position. Pujara survived a scare while on 86 when the umpire adjudged him leg before off Ansari’s bowling. The Indians called for review of the verdict and the much maligned Decision Review System (DRS) came to Pujara’s rescue. The Saurashtra batsman survived a few nervous minutes going into the tea break, consuming eight balls on 99 before the teams went in for the break. For the visitors, Broad, Ansari, Rashid and Stokes took one wicket apiece. With inputs from IANS
India vs England, 1st Test, Day 4, Highlights: Visitors lead by 163 runs at stumps
Live scores and updates of day 4 of the first Test between India and England in Rajkot.
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5 centurions yet in this Test but most impressive batsman IMO has been debutant Haseeb Hameed. Fine technique, mentally strong. Gr8 prospect
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) November 12, 2016
Agree 100% with .@virendersehwag.
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) November 12, 2016
No. 1 sides should play like No. 1 sides.
Be aggressive. Create moments.
Attack, attack, attack.#INDvENG
After 33 overs,England 101/0 ( Alastair Cook (C) 39 , Haseeb Hameed 56)
Hundred run stand comes up between Hameed and Cook in the 33rd over. England have been in total command in the last session so far, they lead by 150 runs.
Haseeb Hameed - now third youngest Englishman to make a Test 50!#IndvEng
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 12, 2016
At 19 years 300 days Haseeb Hameed is the youngest England player to score a fifty vs India, beating his partner Alastair Cook.#IndvsEng
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) November 12, 2016
Looked like a review taken in desperation, pitched outside the line, impact outside the line too, and went over the stumps.
The Indians opt for a review after an lbw appeal by Ashwin is turned down
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) November 12, 2016
Live: https://t.co/rh6tPAPqPI #INDvENG
Will he score his maiden fifty in Test cricket?
Highest scores by a teenager in Tests for England
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) November 12, 2016
74 - J Crawford, Cape Town, 1906
65 - D Compton, Oval, 1937
48* - H Hameed, Rajkot, 2016
By batting as long as they did, India ensured that only something very very unusual could force a result against them!
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 12, 2016
After 25 overs,England 77/0 ( Alastair Cook (C) 32 , Haseeb Hameed 44)
England have begun really well and now the match more likely or not will end in draw. They lead by 125 runs and have faced no troubles from the Indian bowlers so far. Not taking any risks, 7 off the last 5 overs.
This partnership has negated any momentum that India had after Ashwin's knock #INDvENG
— Hariharan Durairaj 𝕏🦁🐿️🐘 (@hariharan_draj) November 12, 2016
After 20 overs,England 70/0 ( Alastair Cook (C) 29 , Haseeb Hameed 40)
India introduces Umesh Yadav into the attack and bring Jadeja from the other end. And after one over, it’s pace from both ends. Yadav and Shami are bowling in tandem. Kohli has set a defensive field already…. England lead by 119 runs. And, it’s drinks at Rajkot.
Who do you think won the challenge? Kapil Dev or Virender Sehwag?
Rather bizarre scene in media centre in Rajkot as Kapil Dev takes on Sehwag in a get a table tennis ball in a rubbish bin challenge! pic.twitter.com/mZ9obLMfOj
— Test Match Special (@bbctms) November 12, 2016
The only other occasion Ravindra Jadeja opened the bowling in Tests:
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) November 12, 2016
11.5-4-21-5 v SAf at Mohali Nov 2015#IndvEng
After 15 overs,England 52/0 ( Alastair Cook (C) 20 , Haseeb Hameed 31)
Jadeja, Ashwin not getting as much from the wicket as the England spinners did. The bowlers’ footmarks not in his bowling area, commentators suggesting a change of ends for both of them. Ashwin is bowling from round to the wicket to Hameed. Yikes, almost a collision between Cook and Hameed in Ashwin’s 5th over. Cook leans forward to defend, the ball takes the leading edge off Cook’s bat and just falls short of Rahane at 1st slip. The southpaw gets a boundary to bring up the fifty run stand between him and young Hameed. Also, England’s lead crosses 100 runs.
Fifty run partnership comes up between Cook and Hameed in the 15th over after England captain pulls Ashwin to deep mid wicket for a four.
After 10 overs,England 40/0 ( Alastair Cook (C) 13 , Haseeb Hameed 26)
Hameed clears his front leg and lofts Jadeja over long-off for a six. India introduce Ravichandran Ashwin into the attack in the 7th over. Oh no! Haseeb places it to point to take singlem but Shami throws and the ball goes to the fence. 5 runs! England are putting away the bad balls. Haseeb hit consecutive fours off Ashwin’s bowling, first through third man and the next towards covers.
After 5 overs,England 15/0 ( Alastair Cook (C) 8 , Haseeb Hameed 6)
Shami opens the bowling for the Indians, with Hameed clipping the fourth ball towards fine-leg to get off the mark. Ravindra Jadeja, and not Ravichandran Ashwin, gets the ball in the second over. Turns out to be an eventful one, with a couple of close calls. Cook gets his first boundary in the fourth over, guiding a short ball from Jadeja down towards third man.
Shadows of Adelaide 2006 looming over England here
— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 12, 2016
ENG: 551/6 dec & 129 lost to
AUS: 513 & 168/4 by 6 wkts#IndvsEng
After 160 overs,India 487/9 ( Ravichandran Ashwin 69 , Mohammed Shami 8)
Ashwin has started accelerating after Yadav’s wicket. 32 off the last 5 overs. Shami too joined a party after slogging Rashid over deep mid-wicket. India trail by 50 runs.
Ravichandran Ashwin has conceded 150+ in an inns 5 times. 4 times he scored a fifty plus with bat in following inns. (Incl today) #INDvENG
— Sampath Bandarupalli (@SampathStats) November 12, 2016
FOUR! Ashwin pulls Rashid to the deep mid wicket fence. https://t.co/rh6tPAPqPI #INDvENG
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) November 12, 2016
FIFTY! Ashwin plays it down to the third man and runs a single to get to his seventh half century.
DROPPED! Cook puts down a regulation chance of Shami off Broad at first slip. https://t.co/rh6tPAPqPI #INDvENG
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) November 12, 2016
After 155 overs,India 455/8 ( Ravichandran Ashwin 49 , Umesh Yadav 5)
Jadeja stands and delivers. Lofts Rashid over his head for a maximum. Ashwin in the next over, prods forward and drives Broad for a boundary. Wowza! Ashwin almost played on. Short ball by Broad, tries to pull, gets a thick inside edge, but it goes over the stumps. Rashid gets rid of Jadeja in the 154th over. India trail by 82 runs.
After 150 overs,India 436/7 ( Ravichandran Ashwin 43 , Ravindra Jadeja 4)
150 overs completed. India trail by 101 runs. Broad came back into the attack in the 149th over and bowls a maiden.
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