Lunch: India 224 & 189-3 (Jaiswal 85*, Akash Deep 66) lead England 247 by 166 runs
England arrived at Headingley on the third morning believing they held a narrow advantage. Two hours later, India’s night-watchman had taken that position apart. Akash Deep, picked for his new-ball skills rather than his batting, rattled 66 – his best score in any form of senior cricket – and shared 107 with Yashasvi Jaiswal for the third wicket. By the time Jamie Overton finally removed him, India were already 150 in front and moving clear.
Deep had survived only two balls on Friday evening before bad light intervened. Fresh start, fresh licence: first delivery this morning he shovelled Jacob Bethell back over mid-on, then threw the kitchen sink at anything with width. England had opportunities. On 21, Josh Tongue persuaded Ahsan Raza to raise the finger for lbw; the review clung to umpire’s call and Deep stayed. Next ball he nibbled Atkinson straight to Zak Crawley at third slip, and Crawley grassed it – his second drop of the innings, England’s fourth.
From there Deep’s luck and nerve held. He leaned back to upper-cut like a seasoned opener, hauled Gus Atkinson through mid-wicket to reach fifty, and celebrated with a punch that even coaxed a smile from Gautam Gambhir on the Indian balcony. Jaiswal, usually the aggressor, quietly ticked along at the other end, happy enough to let the night-watchman steal the headlines.
Overton finally ended the fun, Deep mis-cuing a leading edge to point, yet the damage was done. England’s attack is now deep into its third successive day in the field and, minus the injured Chris Woakes, looks one seamer short. Overton and Tongue both pushed the high-80s, but the surface has flattened and, crucially, the new ball is still 35 overs away.
India’s lead sits at 166; with Jaiswal set and Shubman Gill next in, that advantage could swell quickly. England need wickets this afternoon or face a long, uneven chase.
A measured game remains, but the morning firmly belonged to an unexpected hero. In a match stacked with recognised batting talent, it is Akash Deep – proud owner of a maiden Test fifty – who has carved out the biggest partnership and nudged India into the comfort seat.
