India rode on Mohammed Siraj's sizzling six-fer to bowl out England for 407 despite Jamie Smith and Harry Brook's centurion knocks on Day 3 of the second Test.
Centurions Jamie Smith and Harry Brook stitched a robust 303-run partnership for the sixth wickets bail out England from aa precarious position of 84/5 and helped them get past 400-run mark on Day 3. India will start their second essay with a fat lead of 180 runs.
Harry Brook and Jamie Smith hogged all the limelight on Day 3 with their incredible centuries which led England's fightback. Brook played a dazzling innings, scoring 158 runs off 234 balls, including 17 boundaries and a six. Smith was in exceptional form, smashing an unbeaten 184, which stands as the highest Test score by an England wicketkeeper. His innings was studded with 21 fours and a six.
However, following Brook's dismissal, England experienced a dramatic collapse, falling from 387 for 5 to 407 all out. The introduction of the second new ball proved decisive for India, as they claimed the remaining five wickets in a mere 7.2 overs. A peculiar statistic from England's innings was the occurrence of six ducks in their first innings, marking the first instance in Test history where a team had so many scoreless dismissals in a 400-plus score.
The final session kicked off with Brook hitting three boundaries off Ravindra Jadeja, the second of which brought up his fifth score of 150 or more. However, shortly after the second new ball was taken, Akash broke the formidable 303-run partnership. A well-pitched delivery seamed back in, beating Brook's defense and hitting the top of his off-stump, bringing an end to his brilliant innings of 158.
India continued to take wickets as Chris Woakes was caught at first slip off an edge induced by Akash's bowling. Siraj then bowled a length ball that nipped back in, trapping Brydon Carse leg-before-wicket. Siraj completed his fourth Test five-wicket haul, his first in England, by dismissing Josh Tongue lbw with a full and straight delivery for a duck.
Siraj then welcomed Shoaib Bashir with a sharp bouncer that struck him on the helmet. On the very next ball, Bashir shouldered arms to a delivery that nipped back and crashed into the stumps. This incredible six-wicket haul for the tireless Indian pacer was met with a congratulatory hug from Jasprit Bumrah as he left the field.