JAISWAL’S RAPID TON HAS INDIA IN CHARGE

Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal smashed a rapid century before retiring hurt as India stretched their overall lead to 322 with eight wickets in hand to take control of the third test against England yesterday.

The hosts were left with 10 players for the rest of the match in Rajkot after Ravichandran Ashwin withdrew on Friday night because of a family emergency. Mohammed Siraj, with four for 84, and Kuldeep Yadav, taking two for 77, made up for the off-spinner’s absence as they combined to skittle out England – who had started the day on a solid 207 for two – for 319 in reply to India’s first innings total of 445.

India finished day three on 196 for two but Jaiswal, struggling with a back spasm, retired hurt after his scintillating 104, which included five sixes and nine fours. Shubman Gill was batting on 65 with nightwatchman Kuldeep on three at the other end. “Since Ashwin is not available, the responsibility was on other bowlers to deliver,” Siraj said. “Initially they went after us but we waited for them to make mistakes and did not try anything extraordinary.”

There was no inkling of England’s batting meltdown when they resumed play yesterday with eight wickets in hand. For many, it was Joe Root’s debatable reverse scoop when on 18 – attempted against India’s premier bowler Jasprit Bumrah – that shifted the momentum in the hosts’ favour. Root has not been in great form in this series, and his lean run continued as Jaiswal took a tricky catch.

Left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep bowled a terrific spell, trapping Jonny Bairstow lbw for a duck and ended Ben Duckett’s blistering 153, which contained two sixes and 23 fours. England were pushed further on to the back foot after the lunch break when they lost two wickets in two balls. The wickets of England skipper Ben Stokes (41) and Ben Foakes (13) were snapped up and England lost their last five wickets for a paltry 20 runs.