Eng vs Ind 2018: India Strengthen Their Grip in Third Test Match

India has strengthened their grip in the ongoing third Test match against England at Trent Bridge. The visitors had set up a gargantuan target of 521 runs for the hosts.

Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli batted cautiously in the first session as they didn’t take any risks. The right-handed pair added 70 runs to take the lead to 392 runs in the opening session. Thus, the hosts were always sleeping down the slope and the game kept going away from them.

Cheteshwar Pujara was able to strike back his form as he scored a fine knock of 72 runs. More importantly, Pujara batted in his own style which is a good sign for the team.

On the other hand, Virat Kohli continued his love affair with the England bowlers as he scored his second century of the series. This was Kohli’s 23rd hundred as he looked unperturbed once again.

Meanwhile, England slip cordon woes continued and the struggle added salt to the injury. James Anderson once again produced the outside edge of the Indian captain and Keaton Jennings again went to the ball with butterfingers as he fluffed a chance.

Hardik Pandya who scalped a fifer in the first innings carried on his confidence with the bat. There were some free runs for grasp and Pandya took a half-century with both his hands.

Meanwhile, Adil Rashid scalped three wickets while Ben Stokes took two wickets in a forgettable bowling inning for England.

However, Virat Kohli kept delaying the declaration and may be the Indian captain could have pulled the curtains earlier. Thus, Indian bowlers only had a handful of nine overs to take a shot at tired England opener. They were not able to take any wickets as Kohli missed a trick somewhere to declare earlier.

Brief Scores: England 23-0 and 161.

India 329 and 352-7.

England needs 498 runs whereas India needs ten wickets to win.