Bess delighted with wicket of Kohli

Dom Bess was a satisfied man after landing the key wicket of India captain Virat Kohli as his fourwicket haul helped England stay well ahead on day three of the first Test.

England's first-innings score of 578 saw them assume a position of strength in Chennai, but it required a strong bowling performance if they were to avoid the hosts producing something similar.

At stumps they were well on the way to a commanding position after whittling India to 257 for six, Jofra Archer striking twice and Bess landing the next four.

Chief among his successes was Kohli, who managed just 11 before flicking a bat-pad catch to Ollie Pope in a classical off-spinner's dismissal. For Bess it was a triumph of calm control followed by just enough drift and turn.

“It’s certainly up there for me,” he said. “He’s a worldclass player, one of the best there is. The calibre of who he is, is phenomenal.

“I was looking to get him out, but it wasn’t about bowling that magic ball, it was about smashing in 10-15 balls in a good area, then something (hoping) will happen. I was pleased I kept him in a spot then one has gone and it's straight to Popey.”

In time, Bess might offer a more lavish explanation of how a boy from Taunton got the better of India's premier batsman in his own backyard. But for now, with a Test to win and three more to play, he was keeping his powder dry.

"I don’t want to think about it too much, we're in the middle of a game,” he said. “We got him as a team and we’ll have to try to get him out next innings too. It’s a long series. I’m 23, I’m only going to keep growing here. The journey is going to be up and down, but it’s given me confidence.”