Nottinghamshire’s Jake Ball took a wicket with just the second ball of the day, but a century from from Murali Vijay, and a stunning unbeaten ton from Virat Kohli, mean India are building a healthy first-innings lead in the fourth Test in Mumbai.
Ball bowled an exemplary spell of 1-29 from 14 overs and was aided in his efforts by the brilliance of Joe Root, who took 2-10 with his part-time off breaks, as well as Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali, both of whom secured two wickets for over 100 runs.
England’s efforts with the ball were ultimately overshadowed by the run-scoring juggernaut of Kohli who, like Vijay, secured his second hundred of the series, and helped India to 451-7 at the close, a lead of 51.
At the end of the day, Root was remaining positive. “We stuck at it really well,” he said, “there were times India built some really good partnerships and made it difficult to bowl, but at no point all day did we give up.
“It’s always bitterly disappointing when the chances don't stick. The first two chances we had were very difficult ones but as I said it's gone now and we can't really dwell on it too much.
“We need to look forward and make sure we give it everything we can when we go out there tomorrow morning. "
On the morning of day three, Ball needed just two deliveries to strike, removing Chesteshwar Pujara’s off-stump with a ball that nipped back in. The man on 47 had played an ill-advised leave and Ball had his second Test wicket.
The early breakthrough could not force a flurry of wickets though, as Kohli joined Vijay and advanced the overnight score from 146-2 to 200-3 within 73 balls.
Vijay had begun the day on 70 and looking well set for his second century of the series. That milestone came up to a huge ovation from the large Mumbai crowd who had so far seen him fend off 231 balls.
Lunch was taken with India on 247-2, shortly after Vijay had successfully reviewed an lbw shout from Rashid. The leg-spinner did get his man in the afternoon session with a stroke of luck when Vijay clipped a full toss straight back to the bowler for 136.
Rashid’s spin twin, Ali, struck next, successfully reviewing for lbw on Karun Nair who had added 13 as England enjoyed a better session, at one point restricting Kohli to no boundaries in 84 balls.
The session got even better when the golden arm of Root snared Parthiv Patel – caught behind for 15. Root had brought himself on to bowl having taken over captaincy duties whilst Alastair Cook was temporarily off the field.
Root’s devilish off-breaks then brought him a second wicket in his very next over. Centurion Keaton Jennings took a blinding catch at short leg to remove Ravi Ashwin for a three-ball duck.
The heroics of Root had helped England secure the session, but India were still 348-6 at tea and advanced to 364-7 after the resumption when Ravindra Jadeja (25) was caught behind off Rashid.
Shortly afterwards, Kohli reached his century. It had taken him 187 balls and took his series run-tally past 500, becoming only the sixth Indian to pass the landmark in a series against England.
India then quickly surpassed England’s first-innings total of 400 but should have lost an eighth wicket on 405 when Root shelled Jayant Yadav at slip off the bowling of James Anderson.
The drop proved costly as Yadav reached the close unbeaten on 30, alongside the imperious Kohli (147*), with India 451-7 and well on top.
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