Ollie Pope showcased an exceptional century, leading England's resurgence on Day 3 of the ongoing first Test against India in Hyderabad. Unbeaten at 148, Pope guided the visitors to a 126-run lead, surpassing India's initial lead of 190. The day concluded with England at 316/6 in their second innings, with spinner Rehan Ahmed (16) accompanying Pope at the crease. Alongside Pope's remarkable innings, opener Ben Duckett contributed 47 runs, and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes added a valuable 34 runs.
Despite England's dominance throughout the day, dismissing India's last three wickets for 15 runs and scoring rapidly, they find themselves trailing in the match with two days remaining. To set a challenging target on a spinner-friendly pitch, England would likely need around 80 more runs, especially with the absence of key spinner Jack Leach due to a knee injury sustained on the second day.
In the morning session, Joe Root played a pivotal role in England's bowling performance, dismissing India's overnight batsman Ravindra Jadeja for 87, followed by Jasprit Bumrah on the next delivery. Spinner Rehan Ahmed claimed the wicket of Jadeja's partner Axar Patel, concluding India's innings at 436. Root emerged as England's top wicket-taker in the innings with figures of 4/79, while Rehan and debutant Tom Hartley each claimed two wickets.
In their second innings, England's openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, started assertively. However, wickets fell post-lunch, with Jasprit Bumrah dismissing Duckett and Joe Root. England faced a slump, losing Jonny Bairstow and captain Ben Stokes for low scores, bringing them down to 163/5 from a stronger position of 113/1.
Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes then formed a resilient partnership, contributing 112 runs for the sixth wicket and pushing England beyond the 270 mark. For India, Bumrah and Ashwin each claimed two wickets, while Axar Patel and Ravindra Jadeja took one wicket apiece.
Ashwin's Bowling Brilliance and Fielding Lapses
Ravichandran Ashwin, the stalwart off-spinner for the Indian cricket team, showcased his bowling brilliance during the second innings of the opening Test in Hyderabad. A mesmerizing delivery outfoxed England's Ben Stokes. However, Ashwin's uncharacteristic fielding lapses shortly after bowling the magical delivery added to the frustrations of left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja and the Indian camp.
The first fielding incident occurred in the 44th over of England's second innings when Ollie Pope elegantly flicked a delivery through wide mid-on. Ashwin faltered in chasing down the ball, and despite his efforts, the ball slipped past him, resulting in a boundary for the English batter. The frustration continued in the 50th over, where another fielding mishap involving Ashwin and substitute fielder Rajat Patidar allowed Pope to execute a powerful sweep shot for a boundary.
Indian bowlers demonstrated a collective masterclass, reducing England to five wickets at tea on Day 3. Ollie Pope and Ben Foakes held the England innings together at the break. The spin-friendly conditions and a hint of reverse swing for the pacers worked in India's favor. Jasprit Bumrah's in-ducker dismissed Ben Duckett, while another delivery that kept low gave little chance to Joe Root.
Other English batters struggled against the combination of Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. Despite India putting up 436 on the board in the first innings, they only added 15 runs to their overnight total on the third day.
Ashwin vs. Stokes: A Battle of Wits
Ravichandran Ashwin continued his dominance over Ben Stokes, dismissing the England captain for the 12th time in Test cricket, setting a record for the most dismissals of Stokes by any bowler in the format. Stokes, known for his resilience, came to the crease with England in need of a partnership, trailing India by 190 runs in the first innings with four wickets down for 140.
Under pressure to anchor the innings alongside Ollie Pope, Stokes faced Ashwin's masterful plan. Ashwin set him up with a series of quick deliveries before varying the pace, delivering a beautifully tossed-up delivery on the middle stump that gripped and turned sharply past Stokes' outside edge, crashing into the off-stump. Stokes' uncharacteristically defensive approach played into Ashwin's hands, ultimately proving to be his undoing.
Each encounter between Ashwin and Stokes is a battle of wits, with Ashwin consistently emerging victorious. Stokes, the batter Ashwin has dismissed the most, faced 623 deliveries, conceding 232 runs while succumbing to 12 dismissals, highlighting his persistent challenges against Ashwin's bowling prowess. Despite Stokes' commendable defensive skills, outlasting a spinner of Ashwin's caliber proved to be a daunting task, and the defensive strategy ultimately led to his downfall.
In conclusion, Ollie Pope's splendid century, England's resilience, and Ravichandran Ashwin's bowling brilliance dominated Day 3 of the first Test between England and India. Despite England's impressive comeback, they face a challenging task ahead to set a substantial target for India on a spinner-friendly pitch. Ashwin's mastery over key English players, especially Ben Stokes, showcased his skill and understanding of the game, proving to be a decisive factor in India's favor. The remaining two days promise an exciting battle as both teams strive for supremacy in this closely contested Test match.
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