BIRMINGHAM: India tightened their grip on the rearranged fifth Test against England, with an overall lead of 257 and with seven wickets in hand, despite Jonny Bairstow’s belligerent hundred on day three of the contest at Edgbaston yesterday.
A charged-up Bairstow smashed a rapid 106, his third hundred in four innings, providing the bedrock for England’s 284 all out in reply to India’s 416.
The tourists reached 125-3 at stumps in their second innings with the dour Cheteshwar Pujara (50) and the daredevil Rishabh Pant (30) in the middle.
Earlier, an on-field altercation with India’s Virat Kohli appeared to fire up Bairstow who played some breathtaking shots to rescue England.
Ben Stokes was dropped twice in the morning session but the England captain could not capitalise on the reprieves and departed for 25.
Bairstow refused to retreat into his shell and continued to attack the bowlers as he did in the home series against New Zealand last month.
His superb touch was best illustrated when he pulled Mohammed Siraj from outside the off-stump for the first of his two sixes.
The right-hander brought up his century with a boundary off Thakur and broke into an animated celebration – jumping in joy with his helmet off and his arms aloft. A bowling change finally did the trick for India and Shami dismissed Bairstow who slashed hard at a wide delivery and Kohli took a sharp catch at first slip.
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