Rohit rescues India with a century
London, Sept. 4: Rohit Sharma’s first overseas century swung the momentum of an oscillating fourth Test India’s way despite a late double intervention by England paceman Ollie Robinson on the third day at the Oval.
Bad light disappointingly brought an early end to play on Saturday, with India closing on 270-3 and with a lead of 171 runs.
The tourists hauled themselves back in front — just about — on the back of 127 by Sharma, the classy right-handed opener whose shot-making all around the ground lit up a sometimesgloomy day in south London.
The way he brought up three figures — with a cleanly struck, straight six off spinner Moeen Ali — was classic Sharma, ending his eight-year wait for a hundred outside India.
By that stage, India had turned the game on its head after starting the day on 43-0, trailing by 56 runs after England eked out a 99-run lead after the first innings.
However, just as it looked like England was being batted out of the game, Robinson was handed the new ball and he took two wickets in the first over with it.
Ending a second-wicket partnership of 153 runs, Sharma was early on a loosener from Robinson, top-edging a pull straight to Chris Woakes at long leg.
That was from the first delivery with the new ball. Off the sixth, Cheteshwar Pujara got an inside edge off a much more incisive delivery and it careered off his thigh pad and was caught by Ali at gully.
Given not out on the field, a review confirmed the inside edge and the atmosphere immediately changed inside the Oval.
That left India on 237-3 and with two new batsmen in the middle. The game was back on.
Virat Kohli (22) and Ravindra Jadeja (9), who was again sent in up the order, held firm and put on 33 for the fourth wicket until bad light forced England to bowl only spin, or go off. —