Watch! Ben Stokes bowls a ripper to get rid of Virat Kohli

India ended day 3 with an overall lead of 257 with 7 wickets in hand and two full days to go. It was a day to remember for the Indian bowlers as well as Jonny Bairstow and the cricket fans in general. It wasn’t a day to remember for Virat Kohli as he got out cheaply yet again to score a mere 31 runs in the game despite looking in fine touch with some crisp shots and boundaries.

Ben Stokes shocks Virat Kohli –

Virat Kohli walked into bat with the score reading 43 for 2 and Vihari gone back to the hut for 11. Kohli started his innings with peach of a cover drive for 4 as he looked solid, this was followed by an off drive and few more shots. With the score reading 75 and Kohli on 20, Ben Stokes got one to rise sharply. This surprised Kohli as he had no time to leave the ball and it took the edge of the bat. Sam Billings fluffed the catch, but Joe Root was on hand to take the rebound and send back a dejected Kohli back to pavilion. This was the 6th time Ben Stokes was getting rid of Kohli in test cricket.

Bairstow scores a memorable ton –

Starting the day at 84 for 3, England went for the Indian bowling by scoring quickly. Bairstow was involved in a confrontation with Kohli with the two exchanging words. This seemed to have given the England batter a new purposed as he started scoring freely. Bairstow bought up his 3rd century in as many games and his 11th test ton overall.

Siraj claims 4 to give India the advantage –

Mohammad Siraj had given India a huge break through when he had the wicket of Joe Root on the 2nd day. On Sunday he picked 3 more wickets as he helped India bowl out England for 284 in the 1st innings. Skipper Bumrah picked 3 wickets while Shami picked 2 key wickets including Bairstow for 106. Shardul Thakur had a day to forget as he dropped a sitter and bowled 7 no-balls before picking the wicket of Stokes. Thakur was hit for 48 runs from his 7 overs.

India start day 4 with Pant on 30 off 46 and Pujara on 50. The 34 year old scored his 33rd test 50 for India and will look to press home the advantage and perhaps score a century. Pant too will look to give India a position of safety before going hammer and tongs at the English.