A record 303-run stand between Jamie Smith and Harry Brook offered England a spirited fightback, but India finished Day 3 of the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy firmly in command, leading by 244 runs at stumps on Friday.
Resuming their innings at a shaky 84/5 in reply to India’s imposing 587, England appeared on the verge of collapse when Mohammed Siraj removed Joe Root and Ben Stokes off successive deliveries in the second over of the day. But what followed was a spectacular counterattack from Smith and Brook that rescued the hosts and kept the match alive, albeit with India still dictating terms.
Brook dazzled with a fluent 158 off 234 balls, studded with 17 boundaries and a six. His composed strokeplay was the perfect foil to Smith’s brilliant, unbeaten 184 — now the highest Test score by an England wicketkeeper. Smith’s innings was laced with 21 fours and a six, a knock that combined elegance with sheer resilience.
England, riding on that monumental sixth-wicket partnership, rallied to post 407 before being bowled out in 89.3 overs. The innings, however, saw a rare anomaly: six English batters failed to score, setting a new Test record for the most ducks in a 400-plus total.
Mohammed Siraj led India’s bowling charge with a sensational 6/70 from 19.3 overs—his fourth five-wicket haul in Test cricket and first on English soil. Akash Deep, providing able support, claimed 4/88, helping India secure a healthy first-innings lead of 180 runs.
India’s second innings began on a solid note. KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal added 64 runs in 13 overs before stumps. Jaiswal fell for 28, trapped lbw by Josh Tongue, but Rahul remained unbeaten on 28, joined by Karun Nair (7*), as India closed the day on 64/1, well ahead with a 244-run cushion.
Earlier in the day, Siraj delivered a fiery opening spell that rocked England. He first dismissed Root, who tickled a ball off his pads to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant, and then sent Stokes packing for a golden duck—his first in Test cricket—with a sharp short ball that kissed the glove on its way to Pant again.
But the day quickly turned as Brook and Smith launched a calculated counterattack. Brook looked at ease against pace, driving and flicking Siraj with confidence, while Smith dismantled India’s short-ball ploy with flair. His sweep shots and elegant drives brought up a stylish half-century off just 43 balls.
Smith reached his second Test century before lunch, bringing up the milestone with a boundary off Ravindra Jadeja. Brook, too, brought up his hundred with a dab between slip and gully, later dedicating the knock to his late grandmother, Pauline.
The pair dominated the afternoon session, adding 106 runs, as the Indian attack struggled to break through. Smith reached 150 with a punchy single off Siraj and continued to pepper the boundary ropes, especially against Washington Sundar and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
The turning point came after tea when the second new ball was taken. Akash Deep finally broke the stand, delivering a length ball that nipped back in to castle Brook for 158. The remaining wickets tumbled quickly—England lost five for just 20 runs. Chris Woakes edged Akash to slip, while Siraj trapped Brydon Carse and Josh Tongue lbw before knocking over Shoaib Bashir with a clever nip-backer that uprooted his stumps.
Jasprit Bumrah’s warm embrace greeted Siraj as he walked off the field with a richly deserved six-wicket haul.
India’s reply was aggressive. Rahul began confidently with a classy drive, while Jaiswal punished anything short. The pair added 64 before Jaiswal fell. Rahul and Karun Nair then saw off the remaining overs, leaving India in complete control heading into Day 4.
Brief scores:
India 587 & 64/1 in 13 overs (KL Rahul 28*, Yashasvi Jaiswal 28; Josh Tongue 1/12)
England 407 all out in 89.3 overs (Jamie Smith 184*, Harry Brook 158; Mohammed Siraj 6/70, Akash Deep 4/88)
India lead by 244 runs.
