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Rediff.com  » Cricket » India in charge at Edgbaston despite Bairstow ton

India in charge at Edgbaston despite Bairstow ton

July 04, 2022 01:27 IST
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England captain Ben Stokes  reacts with teammates after a unsuccessful review for the wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara

IMAGE: England captain Ben Stokes reacts with teammates after a unsuccessful review for the wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara. Photograph: Alex Davidson/Getty Images

India tightened their grip on the rearranged fifth Test against England, with an overall lead of 257 and with seven wickets in hand, despite Jonny Bairstow's belligerent hundred on day three of the contest at Edgbaston on Sunday.

 

A charged-up Bairstow smashed a rapid 106, his third hundred in four innings, providing the bedrock for England's 284 all out in reply to India's 416.

The tourists reached 125-3 at stumps in their second innings with the dour Cheteshwar Pujara (50) and the daredevil Rishabh Pant (30) in the middle.

: James Anderson of England celebrates taking the wicket of Shubman Gill 

IMAGE: James Anderson of England celebrates taking the wicket of Shubman Gill. Photograph: Alex Davidson/Getty Images

James Anderson removed Shubman Gill in the first over and Stuart Broad got rid of Hanuma Vihari but Pujara dug in his heels to frustrate England when India came out to bat.

Kohli (20) unfurled some silken drives before being done in by the extra bounce generated by Stokes.

Billings had spilled the catch but an alert Joe Root grabbed the ball before it could hit the ground.

Pant, whose rapid 146 put India in the box seat, was more restrained in the second innings.

 Virat Kohli exchanges words with Jonny Bairstow 

IMAGE: Virat Kohli exchanges words with Jonny Bairstow. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images

Earlier, an on-field altercation with India's Virat Kohli appeared to fire up Bairstow who played some breathtaking shots to rescue England.

Ben Stokes was dropped twice in the morning session but the England captain could not capitalise on the reprieves and departed for 25.

Stokes, on 18, came dancing down the track to Mohammed Shami and offered a skier which Shardul Thakur floored at cover.

Thakur suffered Shami's agony when Jasprit Bumrah dropped a sitter at mid-off to give Stokes another let-off.

 Jonny Bairstow celebrates after completing his century 

IMAGE: Jonny Bairstow celebrates after completing his century. Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

Bumrah immediately redeemed himself, however, by taking a stunning diving catch when Stokes repeated the cavalier shot to Thakur's next delivery.

Bairstow refused to retreat into his shell and continued to attack the bowlers as he did in the home series against New Zealand last month.

His superb touch was best illustrated when he pulled Mohammed Siraj from outside the off-stump for the first of his two sixes.

Bairstow was adjudged lbw to Thakur on 81 but the decision was overturned after replays confirmed an edge before the ball hit his pad.

The right-hander brought up his century with a boundary off Thakur and broke into an animated celebration - jumping in joy with his helmet off and his arms aloft.

Sam Billings of England is bowled by Mohammed Siraj 

IMAGE: Sam Billings is bowled by Mohammed Siraj. Photograph: Alex Davidson/Getty Images

A bowling change finally did the trick for India and Shami dismissed Bairstow who slashed hard at a wide delivery and Kohli took a sharp catch at first slip.

Sam Billings made 36 down the order but England still fell short of the 300-mark and conceded a lead of 132.

Siraj claimed 4-66 for India while Bumrah returned figures of 3-68.

India are 2-1 up in the series which could not be completed last year following COVID-19 cases in the India camp ahead of the final match at Old Trafford.

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