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ENG vs IND: Fans erupt as Joe Root’s batting brilliance puts England in command on Day 3 of Manchester Test

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ENG vs IND: Fans erupt as Joe Root’s batting brilliance puts England in command on Day 3 of Manchester Test

Day 3 of the Manchester Test saw England dominate with the bat, thanks to a masterful century from Joe Root and solid contributions from the top and middle order. In response to India’s first innings total of 358, the hosts finished the day at 544/7, taking a crucial 186-run lead and putting themselves in a strong position going into Day 4.

Joe Root leads the charge with historic 150

The spotlight firmly belonged to Root, who played one of his most complete innings in recent times. Resuming from his overnight score, the former England captain went on to score 150 runs, showcasing his class, temperament, and shot selection. In the process, Root not only brought up his 38th Test century, equalling Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara, but also surpassed Ricky Ponting’s tally of 13,378 runs, becoming the second-highest run-scorer in Test history. Only Sachin Tendulkar (15,921) now stands ahead of him.

Root’s innings was a blend of elegance and authority—he handled both pace and spin with ease and stitched crucial partnerships that pushed India on the back foot.

Ben Stokes sizzles with fighting fifty

While Root was the hero of the day, England skipper Ben Stokes also made his presence felt. After suffering cramps and retiring hurt post his half-century, he returned to the crease later in the day and remained unbeaten on 77 at stumps. His gritty effort added to India’s frustration as England continued to pile on the runs.

Earlier, the foundation for England’s big total was laid by openers Zak Crawley (84) and Ben Duckett (94)—both of whom played with flair and aggression to blunt India’s new-ball attack.

Also READ: ENG vs IND: Joe Root surpasses Ricky Ponting with a monumental feat on Day 3 of the Manchester Test

Indian bowlers struggle on a tough day

It was a long and testing day in the field for the Indian bowlers. The trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and debutant Anshul Kamboj picked up a wicket each, but none could make sustained inroads. Ravindra Jadeja picked up two wickets with his left-arm spin, but it was Washington Sundar who stood out as India’s most economical and effective bowler, finishing with 2/57. However, his limited usage surprised fans and experts alike, especially given the conditions and his success in the middle overs.

With England now holding a sizeable lead and three wickets still in hand, the pressure is squarely on India to produce something special on Day 4 if they hope to claw back into the contest.

Here’s how fans reacted:

Also READ: ENG vs IND: Fans go wild as Joe Root slams 38th century on Day 3 of Manchester Test


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