New Delhi: Jamie Smith and Harry Brook launched an incredible onslaught after Mohammed Siraj’s twin strikes early in the morning session as England fought back to reach 249 for 5 at Lunch on Day 3 of the second Test in Edgbaston, Birmingham, on Friday.
The sensational 165-run partnership of 154 balls stole the momentum from India as Smith’s counter-attacking hundred overshadowed the early success of Siraj.
Smith slammed a blazing hundred in less than a session. He was ably supported by Harry Brook (91 off 127), who is on course to reach three figures in the second session.
England pummeled 172 runs in 27 overs in the first two hours of play, but the hosts trail by 338 runs.
Smith, Brook punish Indian bowlers in morning session
Starting the day from the overnight score of 77/3, England lost half their side in the second over of the morning session when Siraj dismissed Joe Root (22) and Ben Stokes (0) in successive deliveries.
Root returned to the pavillion after a strangle down the leg side saw him get a faint tickle while Stokes was stunned by a rip-roaring short ball.
England were reduced to 84 for 5, but Smith and Brook turned the tide by playing aggressive cricket right from the get-go.
Indian bowlers tried everything, including the short ball plan with six fielders on the leg side, but Smith got the better of Prasidh Krishna, who conceded 23 runs in the 12th over of the day.
Krishna had a forgetful outing with his figures reading 8-0-61-0.
Smith outscored Brooks in a belligerent knock, which was full of sensational shots. He also punished spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, hitting the former for back-to-back fours before smashing a six and a four from Jadeja in the following over.
Smith reached his second Test hundred off 80 balls. The superb century, which was the third fastest by an Englishman, was brought courtesy of consecutive fours off Jadeja in the last over before lunch.