Team India dominated first session of Day three of the first Test match from the word go. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ishant Sharma picked three wickets each as England struggle on 86 runs losing 6 substantial wickets. Jos Butler is still at the crease as the last recognized batsman and the onus will be on him to take England to a formidable lead.
Birmingham Test has been a great spectacle for fans with tides turning from one end to the other. India have managed to get the better of hosts on times when it mattered most. Virat Kohli’s knock of 149 that saved the day for India also provided the visitors with an opportunity to win the Test match. And from the look of things, the bowlers have grabbed the opportunity with both hands as England struggled throughout the first session on Day three. Ashwin and Ishant hit good lines to get rid of the strong batting line up.
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The coming session is a highly pivotal one as it decides the fate of team India not only for this Test match but also for the entire Test series.
R Ashwin begun the day with two significant wickets of Keaton Jennings and captain Joe Root. Only Jonny Bairstow looked good but even he departed after a good stint at the crease. Ishant Sharma wrapped off the morning session with back to back wickets of Bairstow and Ben Stokes.
Brief scores: England 287 all out (Joe Root 80, R Ashwin 26-7-62-4) & England 86/6 in 30.4 overs (J Bairstow 28, R Ashwin 15-4-34-3) lead India 274 all out (Kohli 149, Sam Curran 17-1-74-4) by 99 runs.