India | England
2nd Test, Day 3: Root's ton helps England take 27 runs lead against India
London/UNI: Skipper Joe Root's hard-fought century (180) helped England take a 27-run lead against India as hosts were bowled out for 391 at stumps on the third day of the second Test, here on Saturday.
Resuming on 119/3 in bright and sunny conditions, Root and Jonny Bairstow built their partnership in order to get closer to the Indian total.
Continuing his glorious run of form in the year 2021, Root brought up his 51st Test half-century. Bairstow too looked assured at the crease and brought up his half-century as well on the brink of lunch as England ended the first session on 216/3, adding 97 runs to their overnight total.
After the interval, Mohammed Siraj constantly peppered Bairstow (57) with short deliveries and the plan paid dividends as Bairstow got out after a fine knock of 57.
However, Root soon brought up his 22nd Test century with Jos Buttler joining him at the crease. Root also became only the second England player to score 9000 runs in Test cricket after Alastair Cook.
After a 54-run stand between the pair, India got the much-needed breakthrough through Ishan Sharma bowled Buttler for 23. Thereafter Root and Moeen Ali ensured that England did not lose any wickets heading into the final session, trailing India by only 50 runs.
Root continued to pile on runs after the break, bringing up his 150 for the 11th time in his career.
Ishant Sharma then struck twice in two balls to first send Ali (27) and then Sam Curran for a first-ball duck to bring India back into the game.
Siraj finally got an LBW decision in his favour, trapping Ollie Robinson (6) in front of the stumps to claim his fourth wicket of the innings. Eight overs later, confusion between Root and Mark Wood (5) resulted in a run-out that cost the latter his wicket.
James Anderson (0) survived 16 balls, including a fiery over from Bumrah, but was dismissed off the last ball of the day as Root was left 20 runs short of what would have been his second double hundred at Lord's.
Brief scores:
India 1st Innings: 364 all out in 126.1 overs (KL Rahul 129, Rohit Sharma 83, Virat Kohli 42; James Anderson 5/62).
England 1st Innings: 391 in 128 overs (Joe Root 180 not out; Ishant Sharma 3/69, Mohammed Siraj 4/94).
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