BAIRSTOW STARS, BUT ENGLAND FACE CHALLENGE

JONNY Bairstow dashed off another outstanding century, his third in as many Tests, but England were battling the odds after day three of their series decider against India.

Bairstow is enjoying a career-best run of form, starting 2022 with battling hundreds in Sydney and Antigua before lighting up the summer with consecutive tons at Trent Bridge, Headingley and now Edgbaston.

His 106 was a typically rambunctious affair, containing 14 boundaries and two sixes, but England still gave up a 132-run lead after being bowled out for 284.

India closed 257 in front on 125 for three, poised for the kind of target that might even intimidate a side who have chased down scores of 277, 299 and 296 over the past month against New Zealand. Cheteshwar Pujara was doing vital work with an unbeaten 50, but England’s current and former captains did combine to grab the important wicket of Virat Kohli.

Kohli had earlier been involved some sparring with Bairstow but, while the Yorkshireman cannot stop scoring centuries, the India star last managed one in November 2019. He looked hungry for a score but was cut short on 20 when he gloved a rising delivery from Ben Stokes and was caught onehanded by Joe Root after a fumble from wicketkeeper Sam Billings. England were chasing the game at 84 for five at the start of play, 332 adrift with Bairstow and Stokes primed for a counterattack. Mohammed Shami could have ended things abruptly during a brilliant but luckless spell from the Pavilion End, beating Bairstow repeatedly with some generous seam movement and leaving him hanging by a thread.

A few heated words between Bairstow and Kohli, who made raised a finger to his lips to ‘shush’ the Yorkshireman, appeared to inspire the inform batter. Steeled by the perceived provocation he threw himself into a couple of meaty drives and then went aerial, aiming two dismissive blows down the ground.

Bairstow had scored 13 from 61 balls before his verbals with Kohli and scored 93 off his next 79.