Jaiswal smashes century; India in strong position as lead goes beyond 300

RAJKOT: India's opener Yashasvi Jaiswal continued his brilliant run of form with a third Test century and Shubman Gill hit an unbeaten half-century to help India secure a 322-run lead against England on the third day of the third Test at Rajkot on Saturday. India ended the day at 196/2, with Shubman Gill (65*) and Kuldeep Yadav (3*) unbeaten.

Earlier in the day, India secured a lead of 126 runs before the start of their second innings by dismissing England for 319 in the first innings.

In the second innings, Rohit Sharma and Jaiswal put on 30 runs for the first wicket before England dismissed the Indian skipper. Rohit, who scored a century in the first innings, went back on score of 19 runs which included three boundaries. India reached the 100-run mark in 27.5 overs. Jaiswal continued his rich run of form, making his third century in 122 balls, with nine fours and five sixes. With a six, Gill reached his fifth Test fifty in 98 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes. After experiencing some issues with his back, Jaiswal walked off the field, unbeaten on 104*.

However, Rajat Patidar, who came in next, was dismissed for a duck by Tom Hartley. India was 191/2. India ended the final session without any further loss of wickets.

Before this, Right-arm seamer Mohammad Siraj's outstanding spell helped India dismiss England for 319 before Tea on the third day of the third Test being played at Niranjan Shah Stadium on Saturday. Other than left-hand opener Ben Duckett, who scored 153 runs, no bather was able to hit a big score. Captain Ben Stokes scored 41 runs. For India, Siraj snapped four crucial wickets in his spell of 21.1 overs and conceded 84 runs. Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav got two wickets each and Jasprit Bumrah and Ashwin had to be satisfied with one wicket each.

Brief Score: India 445 & 196/2 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 104*, Shubman Gill 65*, Joe Root 1/70) vs England 319 (Ben Duckett 153, Ben Stokes 41, Mohammad Siraj 4/84).