England tour of India

[sussexpob]

Sharma channelling his inner Kohli

[Arthur Crabtree]

Presume Leach will get the new ball, with Stone.

[sussexpob]

Leach takes the wicket straight away. Sweep shot may have been there, but Sharma doesnt execute it.

Ravi at the other end might not be too delighted about Sharma.... he might fancy a 100 given the overs to get there. Guess he now has to start smashing the cover off it

[sussexpob]

Siraj blocks out a full over. Leach too short.

Be nice to see the hometown boy get a 100 on the return of fans

[Arthur Crabtree]

Going to sleep. My guess is England will be seven down at the close.

[sussexpob]

Going to sleep. My guess is England will be seven down at the close.

Ha going to only be about 20 overs at this rate.

Ashwin into the 90s with a wonderful stroke. Another ball too short from Leach.... Moeen and Jack have just got their lengths wrong too often on this pitch

[sussexpob]

Siraj gets off the mark 1st ball of that over, I have heard crowds more muted when a batsman reaches a 100

[sussexpob]

Ashwin absolutely massacres that into the stands.... hes on 97.

[sussexpob]

2 next ball...99. Come on Ravi

[sussexpob]

There it is.... what a test match he is having.

Not fit for test cricket? The number 8 giving England a lesson on how to bat here.

[sussexpob]

Siraj hit that like Brian Lara.... what a shot

[sussexpob]

Everytime time I see Ollie Pope at short leg field the ball, I assume Ian Bell has come back.

Joe Root drops Siraj, but its rocketed off the bat, probably saved the boundary more than dropped him

Replay makes it look worse in slow mo, decent height for catching and gets both hands to it, but in real time that went like a tracer bullet.

[sussexpob]

Since Kohli got out, been just a hint that this pitch is settling down. Its entirely likely its just the ball and seam softening, but aside from one ball from Leach that jumped at Siraj, not witnessing the same bite off the surface.

[sussexpob]

Siraj has gone big again, and its majestic again.

Is this really a batsman who averages 5 in FC??? Thats too brilliant strokes

[sussexpob]

Stone finally bowls Ashwin off an inside edge, Ashwin was having a mow.... 49 runs for that last partnership, Stone finally breaks it.

England require 482.... seems academic, especially with 6 and a half sessions left. But England at the very least can target improvement. Just try to hang in their, get a few runs, bat a few overs and take something from the game.

Can learn from Ashwin's innings. Get behind the good balls, play late, when the ball is there give it everything and take your opportunities to score, make the best of your good luck.