‘Hitman’ Rohit Hits First Test Century Away From Home With A Six, As India Lead By 171 Runs

New Delhi: The Possible impact of England’s crucial 99 runs lead was not visible on Saturday at The Oval ground only because of a superb century by opener Rohit Sharma and a responsible half-century by Cheteshwar Pujara. Rohit completed his first Test century away from home, that two with a Six to off-spinner Moeen Ali. On the 3rd day of the Fourth Test match, Indian batting was on fire and could reach 270 for 3 at the end of the day’s play. Captain Virat Kohli (22) and Ravindra Jadeja (09) were at the crease. India lead by 171 runs.

Rohit (127, 256 balls, 14 fours, 1 six ) and Pujara (61, 127 balls, 9 fours ) batted with confidence and according to the need. They put up a brilliant partnership of 153 runs for the second wicket with several outstanding shots, whether it is a straight drive, cover drive, pull, uppercut, square cut, back-foot punch, or delegate flicks. Both Indian batsmen made sure that not only India should get past the 99 runs first innings lead of England but also take India to a position from where it can put pressure on hosts batsmen in their second innings. What will happen tomorrow or the day after tomorrow? it’s anybody’s guess but one thing is sure that Indian captain Virat Kholi will have to stay at the wicket, as well as score, runs also. The second new ball is just 11.5 overs old and with that, the first session will be very important for both teams. This may set the tone of which way the match will go.

Yesterday, Indian openers K L Rahul (22 not out) and Rohit Sharma(20 not out) batted well to go back into the dressing room with a score of 43 for no loss trail by 56 runs. On Saturday, Rahul and Rohit were part of a brave first wicket partnership of 83 runs. Rahul could not complete his half-century as he got out on 44, gave a catch to the wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow off James Anderson before lunch. The next two wickets fell in the third session in the first over from the second new ball and the bowler was Ollie Robinson. Rohit Sharma was looking set and in full control but suddenly he tried to pull a low short pitch ball from Robinson and gave an easy catch to Chris Woakes at long leg. Soon Pujara was trapped and the ball kissed his bat for the inside edge and rubbed his thigh pad to be in the hands of Moeen Ali in the slips.

Brief Score:

 India: first-innings all out 191 (Shardul Thakur 57, Virat Kohli 50, Chris Woakes 4-55, Ollie Robinson 3-38).

England: first-innings all out 290 (Ollie Pope 81, Chris Woakes 50,  Jonny Bairstow 37, Moeen Ali 35, Dawid Malan 31,  Joe Root 26,  Umesh Yadav 3/76, Ravindra Jadeja 2/36, Jasprit Bumrah 2/67).

India: second-innings 270 for 3 in 92 overs (Rohit Sharma 127, Cheteshwar Pujara 61, K L Rahul 46, Virat Kohli not out 22, Ravindra Jadeja not out 9, Ollie Robinson 2/67, James Anderson 1/49).