3rd Test: India take out Crawley, Duckett in defence of 557 after Jaiswal, Sarfaraz make merry

India’s defense of 557 began with a strong display as they took out England’s openers, leaving them at 18/2 at tea on day four of the third Test. Yashasvi Jaiswal’s phenomenal double century and Sarfaraz Khan’s unbeaten 68 propelled India to declare their second innings at 430/4 in 98 overs.

England, in pursuit of 557, struggled to get going and lost their openers in a dominating session for India. With Jaiswal’s record-breaking double century and Sarfaraz’s contribution, India put themselves in a commanding position going into the final stages of the match.

Jaiswal, who had to retire hurt on day three, remained unbeaten on a career-best score of 214 off 236 balls, while Sarfaraz added to England’s misery with an impressive 68. The partnership between the two young batters showcased the bright future of Indian Test cricket batting.

With Jaiswal leading the run-scoring in the ongoing series and breaking records for most sixes in a Test innings, India’s dominance was evident from the entertaining display on the field. England now faces a steep mountain to climb as they look to avoid a defeat in the third Test.

As India looks to maintain their strong position, England will need to regroup and put up a resilient fight to salvage a result in the remaining stages of the match. With the series finely poised, the upcoming sessions are crucial for both teams to stake their claim in the third Test.

In the brief scores, India leads England by 539 runs, with a strong display in both batting and bowling, setting up an intriguing finish to the third Test.

Photo: IANS (Representational)