India vs. England, the 1st test, day 3 - OLLIE POPE CENTURY leads tourists to Hyderabad.

 

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At the historic Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, cricket enthusiasts witnessed a sensational performance by England's Ollie Pope on the third day of the 1st Test against India. The young batsman crafted a remarkable century, leading the tourists to an impressive position in the match.

Pope hit his first century against India, his 5th in Test cricket overall, to guide England to a total of 316/6 at stumps on Day 3. Former England cricketers Eoin Morgan and Kevin Pietersen were left impressed by the batter and lauded his gritty effort.

Pope's epic 148 not out dragged England to 316-6 in their second innings, 126 ahead and with hope of pulling off a famous win.

The vice-captain received brilliant support from Ben Foakes, who made 34 in a sixth-wicket stand of 112 that first ensured England were not beaten with two days to spare, then built a handy lead.

Though Foakes was bowled by Axar Patel, Rehan Ahmed survived to the close on 16 not out. Perhaps crucially, Pope was dropped on 110 and will return on Sunday with the opportunity to set India a testing target.

All of this after Jasprit Bumrah's scintillating spell of reverse-swing bowling helped reduce England to 163-5 and in danger of wasting a good start to the day.

India managed only 15 runs in the morning session, bowled out for 436, with Joe Root taking two wickets in two balls to end with 4-79. Overall, the hosts lost their last three wickets for no runs but still had a lead of 190.

England had reached 89-1 at lunch, making assured progress on a diet made up almost exclusively of spin. But fast bowler Bumrah, on straight after the break, blew the game open by getting a ball only 16 overs old to reverse-swing, with devastating results.

Bumrah, who is remarkably playing only his fifth Test on home soil, should have had Duckett lbw, only for India not to review. In the next over, he got through Duckett's flashing drive with a hooping in-swinger and, in the next, pinned an unbalanced Root leg before.

It was riveting stuff, the sort of Test cricket that makes every delivery an event, creating an electrifying atmosphere for the 28,750 spectators inside the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium.

Jonny Bairstow did well to repel Bumrah but lost his off stump playing no shot to a straight one from Jadeja, who had got the ball before to turn sharply. Stokes, subdued for six from 33 balls, played all around an Ashwin half-volley that turned to hit off stump.

It was an innings of pure class as Pope spent 206 minutes to reach the three-figure mark. He was excellent with his sweeps and reverse sweeps, and forced Ashwin to change his line of attack. It was a gutsy knock given the position England was in. Pope, on a slow pitch, negotiated Bumrah’s fiery spell and then dealt with the spinners by constantly employing the sweep shot to become the first centurion of the series. 

Axar, however, came back to break the century-run stand as he packed off Foakes with a quicker delivery that kept low and crept under the bat of the batsman to crash into the base of the off-stump.

England’s lead moved past three figures moments before the close of play as Pope held a batting lesson for his teammates in a knock that was punctuated with guts and skill.

The match was finely poised, setting the stage for an intriguing fourth day of play in Hyderabad. Cricket enthusiasts and analysts eagerly awaited the outcome, as both teams remained determined to secure a crucial victory in the opening Test of the series.