New Delhi: Joe Root slammed his 38th Test century to help England build the first-innings lead over India after a run-filled second session on Day 3 of the fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester.
Root, who, in the morning session, surpassed Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis to become the second-highest run-getter in Tests, equalled Sri Lanka great Kumar Sangakkara’s record of 38 centuries, as the hosts asserted their dominance by reaching 433 for 4 at Tea.
Soon after passing the 100-run mark, Root also surpassed Australian legend Ricky Ponting to become the second-highest run-scorer in Tests and now only sits behind Indian icon Sachin Tendulkar.
Courtesy of Root’s record-breaking century, England built a 75-run lead with a session and two days to go in the Test.
Stokes, Root snuff out India’s window of opportunity
While England finished the session on a high, it was India who started brightly in the post-lunch session. Washington Sundar gave India a lifeline with two quick wickets of Ollie Pope (71) and Harry Brook (3). However, Ben Stokes and Root steadied the ship and wrested back control with an unbeaten 84-run partnership.
A total of 101 runs were scored for the loss of 2 wickets in the session.
There were a couple of injury concerns for India in the session, too, with Mohammed Siraj hobbling to the dressing room on the stroke of Tea and Jasprit Bumrah being held back from bowling for unknown reasons.
“Bumrah is out in the middle but he will be able to bowl only after tea,” remarked Ravi Shastri on air.
With England going along nicely, India need their main bowler to step up in the final session, but with question marks over his bowling availability, India stare at a daunting task to contain the home side.
On Day 1, Duckett and Crawley set the tone on Day 2 with a superb opening stand of 166 and Root and Pope continued the good work on Day 3 with a sensational partnership of 144 runs.