England lead the charge despite Pant, Pujara’s heroics

Rishabh Pant and Cheteshwar Pujara’s stunning performance helped revive India’s first innings but Dom Bess dominated the hosts’ batters to put England on top on Day 3 of the first Test here at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Sunday.

At stumps, India’s score read 257/6, with Washington Sundar (33*) and Ravichandran Ashwin (8*) on the field, trailing England by 321 runs. England scored 578 runs in their first innings with the help of Joe Root’s double ton.

India did not get off to a good start to their first innings as Rohit Sharma was sent back to the pavilion by Jofra Archer in the fourth over. Opener Shubman Gill was then joined by Cheteshwar Pujara but their partnership also did not last long as the former was dismissed by Archer in the 10th over.

Skipper Virat Kohli (11) too failed to leave a mark as Bess picked his wicket in the 25th over. In his next over, Bess got hold of Ajinkya Rahane (1), reducing India to 73/4. Pant then joined Pujara out in the middle.

While Pujara opted for a defensive approach, Pant played with an attacking mindset. Both completed their respective half-centuries and provided the team with some momentum. Their 119-run partnership was brought to an end by Bess, who removed Pujara (73) in the 51st over. Washington Sundar then came out to bat.

Pant put up a measured counter-attack, targeting Leach and refraining himself from going after Bess. Pant smashed nine fours and five sixes and was dismissed when he finally mistimed a lofted shot off Bess. Leach completed the catch at deep cover to leave Pant nine runs short of his third Test century.

Pujara was dismissed by Bess in a rather bizarre fashion. The Indian batsman attempted a pull shot. The ball rebound off Pope’s shoulder at short leg before looping to Burns at short midwicket.

Washington Sundar, batting on 33, was in the middle with Ravichandran Ashwin on eight off 54 balls at stumps.

Earlier, resuming the day from 555/8, England did not witness a good start as Jasprit Bumrah dismissed Bess (34). Soon after that, Ashwin got hold of James Anderson which brought an end to England’s first innings. Bumrah and Ashwin finished with three wickets each while Root was the top-scorer for England as he played a knock of 218.

Brief scores: England 578 (Joe Root 218, Ben Stokes 82, Jasprit Bumrah 3/84); India 257/6 (Rishabh Pant 91, Cheteshwar Pujara 73, Dom Bess 4/55).