India vs England: Visitors toil in the field but make vital, late breakthrough as Lokesh Rahul throws his wicket away on 199
Hosts close on 391-4 as Karun Nair hits maiden 50 to end the day just 86 runs behind England's 477 all out total
ENGLAND managed to dismiss Virat Kohli for just 15 runs but a chap called Lokesh Rahul plundered their bowlers instead.
Opener Rahul made the small matter of 199 as India piled up the runs once more on day three of the Fifth Test.
Rahul was out one run short of his double century when he squirted a horrible, wide ball from Adil Rashid into the hands of Jos Buttler at point.
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He was so distraught at getting out to such a bad delivery that he dropped his bat and crouched down with his head in his hands before dragging himself from the middle.
Rahul put on 161 for the fourth wicket with Karun Nair.
The wicket gave Rashid 23 for the series – equalling the record for an England wrist-spinner.
By the close, India had reached 391-4 – 86 runs behind England.
This match could still turn out to be a near-repeat of the previous Test when England scored 400 in their first innings and lost heavily.
Here, England made as many as 477 all out but they will be keen to avoid another battle to save the game against India’s spinners on the final day.
Stuart Broad was the successful bowler as Kohli drove a catch to Keaton Jennings in the covers and was out for fewer than 40 for the first time in the series.
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That left India 211-3 – still 266 runs behind England – and the touring team had a glimmer of hope.
But it was extinguished by the big partnership between Rahul and Nair.
Captain Alastair Cook failed to cling onto a quarter-chance at first slip when Nair edged Jake Ball on 34.
England’s spin bowlers – Moeen Ali, Liam Dawson and Rashid - made a total of 272 runs with the bat but found their other job more of a struggle.
Only two wickets fell to spin on day three. The first came when Moeen coaxed a front edge from wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel and then ball lobbed into Buttler’s hands at cover.
Rahul signified his intent in Dawson’s second over of the day when he hoisted the Hampshire left-armer for a straight six.
And he rarely looked in trouble as he reached his first Test century in India – courtesy of an overthrow – and went on and on.
The only other wicket to fall was Cheteshwar Pujara’s edge off Ben Stokes which was safely snaffled by Cook at slip.