Tea – Day Three
India 224 & 304-6 (Jaiswal 118, Deep 66; Atkinson 3-99, Tongue 2-100)
England 247
India lead by 281 runs
Yashasvi Jaiswal, still only 23, put together a breezy 118 that leaves England needing something never before done at this ground – chase more than 275 in the fourth innings. When the players broke for tea, India were 304 for 6 and looking fairly content with how the day had drifted.
England’s attack short-handed
Chris Woakes was ruled out on the morning with a side strain, so Ben Stokes was forced to juggle just three frontline quicks. It showed. Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Jamie Overton shared 57 overs between them – Root’s off-spin filled only three – and whatever nip was on offer vanished after lunch.
“At times the ball felt like a bar of soap,” Atkinson admitted to the BBC. “You keep running in, but on a flat Oval deck it can get away from you pretty quickly.”
Fast start, brisk scoring
India rattled along at better than four an over, a tempo set by Shubman Gill’s first-ball boundary after the interval. He didn’t last long – lbw to Atkinson next ball – yet that dismissal hardly slowed things. Karun Nair scratched about for 17, was dropped once by Harry Brook, then feathered another Atkinson lifter through to Ben Foakes.
Jaiswal’s method
Jaiswal reached three figures, his fourth against England and second of this summer, with a hurried single behind point. Seventy-odd of his first hundred came square or finer on the off side; plenty of glides, dabs and the odd audacious slash over the slip cordon (those catchers stationed beside the wicket). “I backed my instincts,” he told Sky Sports. “The field was set for the drive, so I looked for deeper angles.”
Lives given, one finally taken
Ben Duckett spilled a tough chance at leg gully when Jaiswal was 110. Eight runs later Jamie Overton at deep third did cling on, ending an innings that had dragged the match India’s way. A handshake and a quiet walk back, no wild celebrations – typical Jaiswal.
Lower-order resistance
Vihaan Deep, promoted to No. 7, added an unbeaten 66, steering handy stands with both Ravindra Jadeja and debutant keeper Dhruv Jurel. Tongue thought he had Jadeja lbw on 17; the review showed a feather of glove. “We’re still in this,” Tongue insisted afterwards. “A couple early tomorrow and the chase is on.”
What England face
The highest successful fourth-innings target here is 263, by England themselves back in 1902. Anything north of that has proved too steep. The pitch, though flat, has begun to scuff on a good length, and Jadeja’s left-arm spin should enjoy the final-day footmarks.
Outlook
India hold the cards. England need to slice through the tail first thing, then bat the game of their summer. It’s set up, quietly, for a fascinating final act – no guarantees, plenty of ifs, but just enough time.
