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India extends its leadership past 450 when Ravi Ashwin ends the century in his homeland after being dropped TWICE while England was preparing for the Hercules Strike Mission
- India drove 450 rounds from England on the third day of this second test match
- Ravichandran Ashwin reached his century to the delight of the domestic audience
- England took five wickets in the morning but fought after lunch
- Virat Kohli and Ashwin put on 96 for the seventh wicket together
- Moeen Ali caught Kohli lbw for 62 – and released him for the second time in the match
Ravichandran Ashwin ended a hugely popular century in his Chennai homeland when India expanded its lead over England to over 450.
Virat Kohli made 62 before being caught in the LBW by Moeen Ali and sat on a seventh wicket stand with Ashwin after England made five wickets that morning.
Ashwin was dropped by Ben Stokes on the 28th and Ben Foakes on the 56th as he continued to punish England’s bowlers and overtook his century with a series of big punches as his batting partners dwindled.
Ravichandran Ashwin marks his half century when India extended its lead over 400
Stuart Broad sees a chance to beg when England is held up by Ashwin and Kohli
Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin have built a 96-year partnership to cement India’s leadership
Kohli looked very determined and stabilized the ship for India after the top order worked
The morning session had given England encouragement as they opened their doors at regular intervals.
Jack Leach and Moeen Ali took two apiece, but England’s most noticeable performer was Foakes, who followed his good eyelashes with authoritative wicketkeeping on Sunday that saw him involved in three layoffs.
Joe Root’s team came out eagerly, taking three for eleven in the opening exchanges.
Cheteshwar Pujara was the first to fall under bizarre circumstances. By that point, Ollie Pope had already returned the ball to Foakes and removed the bail in time to see number three.
Foakes, who was celebrating his 28th birthday, was even better when the first innings centurion Rohit Sharma was 26 and got his job done in a flash when the opener was extremely even.
Leach had done enough to beat the bat, but it took Foakes’ unparalleled responses to finish the job.
Cheteshwar Pujara was the first to run out of just seven runs with Olly Stone
Some great work by Ben Foakes made him surprise India’s Dangerman Rohit Sharma
The same combination was responsible for the dangerous rishabh pants. Leach tossed one up and pulled it away from his right hand.
Pant was way down on his way to fast runs and stayed there as Foakes was perfectly positioned to follow the curve and separate the stumps.
India slipped to 86 for five, although an existing gap of 195 improved its effective position slightly as Moeen rose.
After a mixed start, he contracted to fend off Ajinkya Rahane, who gave Pope a regular bat chance on the short leg.
Foakes
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