Jofra Archer and Dom Bess shared all six wickets as England took control of the first Test against India in Chennai.
Sundar Washington and Ravichandran Ashwin took the hosts to 257 for six at stumps, but still 321 runs behind the tourists’ mammoth first innings total of 578.
Having been reduced to 73 for four, Cheteshwar Pujara (73) and Rishabh Pant (91) led the Indian fightback in the afternoon before Bess snared both after tea.
Dom Bess and Joe Root celebrate after taking the wicket of Cheteshwar Pujara for 73
Pujara and Rishbah Pant led India’s fightback after they had been reduced to 73 for four
Pant launched a blistering counter-attack before he was caught out nine runs short of a ton
Bess celebrates after claiming the crucial wicket of Indian captain Virat Kohli
Bess is congratulated by England skipper Joe Root after India lost their third wicket
Kohli makes his way back to the dressing room as India struggle in response to England’s 578
The tourists batted on for 41 minutes on the third morning in Chennai, eking out another 23 runs for their final two wickets. Bess fell lbw to Jasprit Bumrah for a very handy 34, before James Anderson missed a sweep against Ravichandran Ashwin to draw the curtain after more than 190 overs.
After waiting almost seven sessions for a chance to bat, both Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill found themselves back in the pavilion before lunch. Rohit was undone by Archer for six, nicking in the channel after a half-hearted prod.
With Anderson unusually harmless with the new ball, Archer mixed it up impressively as he flipped between bouncers and leg-cutters with the occasional four-ball slipping in to keep the contest even.
Gill looked to be up to the challenge, stroking his way to a smooth run-a-ball 29 before digging out a full ball towards mid-on. Anderson, having just been removed from the attack, remained fully alert and pulled off a diving catch that most 38-year-olds could only dream of.
As they broke for lunch, a score of 59 for two left England well in front.
Jofra Archer removed both Indian openers with the new ball to give England the perfect start
Archer’s double strike more than compensated for the steady flow of runs by India’s openers
Archer (left) celebrates with his England team-mates after taking the wicket of Shubman Gill
The previously brisk scoring rate slowed after the break, with Pujara typically cautious and Kohli deciding to go down a similar route in deference to the huge deficit.
After a solitary over before lunch, Bess was given his chance against one of the modern greats and emerged with a clean victory. Having established a consistently solid line and length he struck gold with one that floated a touch away through the air and turned gently into the inside edge of Kohli’s forward press.
Ollie Pope held on to the bat-pad chance and England had their prize scalp. Ajinkya Rahane followed soon after, stepping down the track to meet Bess on the full and carving through cover.
This time Joe Root provided the inspiration, launching into a stunning one-handed catch. While India laboured for 126.1 overs to take four wickets, they had lost the same number in around 100 fewer.
Pujara steadily accumulated as he so often does from number three, but Pant provided the adrenaline shot. Back-to-back fours off Archer showed his early intent but it was Leach who drew out his violent side.
His quartet of sixes were equal parts reckless and thrilling, each smashed hard and high in the arc between long-on and mid-wicket. England hoped he would mistime one soon but he kept on going, following Pujara to a half-century in just 40 balls with a powerful drive off the left-arm spinner.
This post first appeared on Dailymail.co.uk
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