11:57 (IST), Mar 9

Day 3, Morning session – Ashwin dents England prime order, India sense huge win

India grabbed a useful first innings lead of 259 after which diminished England to 103 for five to remain heading in the right direction for a complete victory within the fifth and closing Test on Saturday.

Off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin wrecked England’s prime order with a three-wicket burst on day three of the competition and the vacationers had been gazing their fourth defeat within the sequence.

England captain Ben Stokes fell on the stroke of lunch with the vacationers nonetheless 156 runs behind.

Joe Root was batting on 34 however England’s decrease order must bat out of their pores and skin to disclaim India an innings victory on the picturesque Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium.

Earlier resuming on 473-8, India might add solely 4 runs earlier than dropping their final two wickets.

England warhorse James Anderson turned the primary quick bowler to assert 700 Test wickets when he dismissed Kuldeep Yadav (30) caught behind.

The travelling “Barmy Army” followers gave Anderson a standing ovation however their morale sagged quickly after England walked out to bat, having conceded a big first-innings lead of 259.

India harnessed Ravichandran Ashwin with Jasprit Bumrah for brand new ball duties, and the off-spinner bowled Ben Duckett (two) in his first over.

The opener had charged up to now down the monitor that he would have been stumped even when he was not bowled.

Ashwin struck once more on this third over, dismissing Zak Crawley for a duck.

Crawley, England’s main scorer within the sequence, might solely flip the ball to Sarfaraz Khan at backward brief leg.

Ollie Pope made a breezy 19 earlier than trying a sweep in opposition to Ashwin, and Yashasvi Jaiswal took a working catch to dismiss the England vice captain.

Jonny Bairstow smacked Ashwin for 3 sixes in an enthralling duet between two fierce opponents each taking part in their one hundredth check.

Kuldeep Yadav, changing Ashwin within the assault, ended Bairstow’s entertaining knock of 39, trapping him lbw.

Ashwin returned to disturb Stokes’ stumps with the ultimate supply earlier than the lunch break.