Opener Rohit Sharma has struck a fine 127 to put India in control at stumps on day three of the fourth Test against England at The Oval.
The visitors were 3-270 in their second dig – holding an overall lead of 171 – when bad light forced a premature end to day three.
The day belonged to opener Rohit who struck his first overseas Test ton – and eighth overall – before falling for 127.
He shared a 153-run second wicket stand with Cheteshwar Pujara (61), defying the seamer-friendly, overcast conditions.
Renowned as one of one-day cricket’s greatest batsmen, Rohit had one glaring omission on his impressive resume with all seven of his previous Test tons notched on home soil.
But the 34-year-old finally ticked that box, snapping a run of 23 Tests and 44 innings overseas without reaching triple figures.
Rohit constructed his innings perfectly, resolutely defending outside the off stump and taking runs off anything loose, with Moeen Ali’s off-spin often a target.
He found an able partner in Pujara, who played with uncharacteristic aggression, hitting nine boundaries.
Rohit hit 14 fours and a six in his 256 ball knock.
Every run would have felt like a dagger to Rory Burns, who had dropped Rohit with just four to his name on the second evening and did so again in Saturday’s morning session on 31.
England threatened a brief comeback after Ollie Robinson (2-67) removed both Rohit and Pujara in the first over with the second new ball.
But skipper Virat Kohli (22 not out) and Ravindra Jadeja (nine not out) steadied the innings.
Put into bat on day one, India were bowled out for 191 in their first dig before England hit 290 highlighted by Ollie Pope’s 81.
The five-Test series is level at 1-1.
Renato CARINI
Roar Rookie
Still interesting poised though: 291 from a full day with all 10 wickets I do expect that the fall of one wicket will to lead to a cascade. At 0 for 180 the game is evenly poised. What an interesting match.
Paul
Roar Guru
What was noticeable was how fast English heads went down when their "go to" guys, Anderson & Robinson failed to do much in that first hour of play. Credit to Woakes who really bowled a very good spell to get rid of Jadeja & Rahane, but unless Root plays a blinder, I think there's only two possible results, a draw or an Indian win..
Renato CARINI
Roar Rookie
If England don't make early inroads in that first session It's game over. The momentum has shifted and the Poms need to reverse this immediately. Just sayin'
Renato CARINI
Roar Rookie
Clever
Ian
Roar Rookie
But if you go Woakes,Stokes and Foakes you win!
Ian
Roar Rookie
The Oval's probably the best cricket in this country.It brings everyone into the game.There was something in the wicket all day but Englands bowling fell away badly as the day progressed.It's a minor miracle this summer but apparently the Sun's going to make an appearance over the next 2 days,so that might break the wicket up and help a spinner like Ravi Ashwin...oh wait!!!!!
Ian
Roar Rookie
I saw just about all of it and you're right,there was something in it for the bowlers all day long.The Indians show some old fashioned Test match grit,keep the good ones out and put the bad ones away for four.That said,Englands bowling fell away badly,particularly after lunch.Anderson and Robinson both looked knackered,Woakes was steady but didn't really threaten,Overton was totally innocuous and Moeen bowled 15-0-63-0 and wouldn't have got me out.If Ashwin was playing,I'd give England little chance from here but if they can crash through and leave themselves chasing no more than 250,they're still a chance...What a good series this has been!
Paul
Roar Guru
I saw about 3 hours worth and I'm guessing at least a ball an over deviated, which is saying something, given how old the ball was getting. Maybe it's more saying how much the ball moves in English conditions normally because it was still doing a bit for sure, though clearly not as much as on previous days or in previous Tests.
Clear as mud
Guest
This game teeters on the edge of actual greatness. Imagine India make 390. Setting England a symmetrical 290. Almost the perfect numerical embodiment of how a pitch should ebb and flow. Imagine a tie with an hour to go tomorrow. Would be greatest game ever!
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Pujara’s too. Rohit batted beautifully but it just goes to show how the difference between a high score and a low one is often which ball takes the edge or which catch gets dropped, even for fine innings (and why averages tell you something about class over time) :) One odd thing - CricViz claimed the average lateral movement yesterday (swing + seam) was the 4th lowest for any day in England (2006-present), and the lowest since 2015. I only saw the highlights, but from what I could see I thought there was a still a reasonable amount of movement off the seam in particular. Certainly not like day 1, but more than some English wickets we’ve seen.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Yep poor catching all game by England.
Sedz
Guest
Gotcha. I don't see any one ahead right now. Warner has a good record in Australia but not in India/England.
Paul
Roar Guru
Just in case you missed the comment I replied to “Rohit is the best Test opener in the world right now ” And Rohit averages 30 away from India.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
I'm still picking India to win this match on the basis of what the most recent ex-president of the USA said " If you go Woakes you lose!"
Sedz
Guest
Devon Conway has played just three matches and he is yet to be tested in Asia and Australia conditions. But he seems to be a good player in what we have seen so for. Lathams average against South Africa is 11, against India and Australia he averages below 30. 31 against Pakistan whereas he averages 93 against Bangoadesh , 85 against Zimbabwe and 77 vs Srilanka. His average is inflated against weaker opponents.
Targa
Roar Rookie
Karunaratne
Paul
Roar Guru
There was some terrific batting in often difficult light and with the ball moving around, all Indian batsmen applied themselves, but especially the openers. Rohit's hundred was excellent but KL Rahul's contribution cannot be discounted. Day 4, second new ball only 12 overs old, India 171 in front and another absorbing session to look forward to. When Test cricket is this good, what's not to like?
Paul
Roar Guru
Devon Conway & Tom Latham might not agree with you. He's also swimming in a pretty shallow talent pool. Other than the guys I mentioned, there aren't a lot of other openers in great form right now.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Rohit is the best Test opener in the world right now and the performances back it up. Scoring runs for fun at home and did a decent job overseas where he just needed to convert starts. Did it last night. Most dominant Test opener India have had since Sehwag
Sedz
Guest
Thanks to Rory Burns. He was generous enough to put down twice and rightfully Rohit cashed in.