India expanded their grip in the Trent Bridge Test on another rain-curtailed day to end Day 3 in a better position. K.L. Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja were the key contributors and there were surprising contributions from their last three batters.
England tried their best, as both James Anderson and Ollie Robinson bowled long spells. However, Stuart Broad and Sam Curran did not look up to the mark, at times bowling shorter than the ideal length.
England vs India: How the day started
Although the day started on time, rain halted play after 11 balls. When play resumed after nearly an hour, Rishabh Pant started to open up. He hit Robinson for four through gully, then top edged the next ball for a six over the wicketkeeper’s head. However, Robinson had his revenge next ball, having Pant caught at short cover.
Ravindra Jadeja’s arrival brought a sense of calm to the proceedings. He and Rahul ensured there was no drama before lunch. They picked the loose balls, finding the odd boundary, and even securing the lead in the first session. India were 8 runs ahead at lunch, with Rahul on 77 and Jadeja on 27.
India resumed well after the lunch, taking the score beyond 200, before Anderson provided the next breakthrough, having Rahul edging for 84 – a patient, if somewhat uncomfortable, innings on his comeback to Test cricket.
Shardul Thakur went soon, edging to slip off Robinson, and India were 205/7.
But Jadeja and Mohammed Shami played their shots, adding 27 in the next 25 balls, of which Jadeja (56) got 24. He reached his 16th Test half-century before being caught at mid off, off Robinson.
But it was not yet over. Jasprit Bumrah played some outrageous shots in his 34-ball 28. Once Shami fell against the new ball, Bumrah was left with only Mohammed Siraj for company. Bumrah took 4, 6, 4 in the first three balls of the 82nd over, from Curran. The six, a ferocious hook, came off a bouncer that was not off target.
Bumrah was finally dismissed for 28, leaving Siraj unbeaten on 7. India finished their first innings on 278 with a lead of 95. Robinson finished with 5-85 and Anderson 4-54.
Rory Burns and Dom Sibley then survived six overs before tea, adding 11. They reached 25/0 without much trouble when rain stopped the play in the 12th over. After persistent rains, the umpires announced early stumps on Day 3.
Nottingham has predictions of heavy rain and thunderstorm on Saturday, but things may improve slightly on Sunday. Fans from both sides will hope for minimal rain interruption during the rest of this riveting contest.
Brief scores: England 183 (Joe Root 64; Jasprit Bumrah 4-46) and 25/0 (Rory Burns 11*) trail India 278 (K.L. Rahul 84; Ollie Robinson 5-85, James Anderson 4-54) by 70 runs.