IND vs ENG 1st Test Day 3 Highlights: Ollie Pope Unbeaten On 148, England Finishes Day With 316/6:On Day 3 of the game, India failed to significantly enhance their batting performance. Starting from an overnight score of 421/7, they were eventually dismissed for 436 runs, only managing to add 15 runs to their total from the previous night. Despite the promising batting display by Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel, there was anticipation that they could lead India to a 250-run advantage
In a captivating turn of events during the series-opening first Test against India in Hyderabad, England’s vice-captain, Ollie Pope, emerged as the hero with a resilient unbeaten innings of 148 runs on Day 3. Pope’s stellar performance not only kept England firmly in the contest but also propelled them to a commanding 126-run lead over the hosts. The day began with Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah’s magical post-lunch spell, which rattled the English batting lineup.
Pope’s standout partnerships played a pivotal role in England’s resurgence. Teaming up with wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, Pope orchestrated a commendable 112-run stand for the seventh wicket before Foakes departed for 34, courtesy of Axar Patel. Subsequently, Pope found an able ally in leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, forging a valuable 40-plus run partnership, steering England’s fightback.
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After bowling India out for 436, England’s second innings unfolded with promise as openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett effectively employed the sweep shot against the Indian spinners. However, Crawley’s innings was cut short at 31 when Ravichandran Ashwin induced an edge, neatly caught by India captain Rohit Sharma at lone slip.
Ollie Pope’s Heroic Stand and Partnerships Propel England to Dominant Position in Hyderabad Test
Undeterred, Duckett joined forces with Pope to propel England past the 100-run mark by the 18th over. Duckett, surviving a close lbw appeal on 39, eventually fell victim to Bumrah’s delivery that uprooted his off-stump, creating a stir among the spectators. With the ball starting to reverse, Bumrah posed a formidable threat, leading to a challenging period for the English batsmen.
Amidst the drama, England’s innings saw setbacks, including the dismissal of captain Joe Root, who fell for just two runs but became the highest run-scorer against India in Test cricket during his brief stay. Ravindra Jadeja joined the bowling party, outfoxing Johnny Bairstow with a delivery that lacked turn, while Ashwin accounted for Ben Stokes for the 12th time in Tests, leaving England facing a challenging situation.
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As day three concluded, England, having scored 316 for 6 in their second innings, showcased resilience and determination, setting the stage for an intriguing fourth day of the Test match in Hyderabad. The historic milestone of both teams consistently surpassing 300 runs in each of the first three days added an extra layer of significance to this riveting encounter, This marks the eighth occurrence of such sustained high-scoring in a Test match hosted in India, with the most recent instance observed during the India-New Zealand Test in Bengaluru in 2012.
