India extend lead to 370 runs at tea as Shubman Gill runs with third Test hundred

Visakhapatnam: Shubman Gill  overcame a lean patch to score a fine hundred as India reached 227 for six at tea on day three of the second Test against England to extend their lead to 370 runs here on Sunday.

India made 97 runs in the session courtesy an 89-run stand between Gill (104 off 147) and Axar Patel (45 off 84). R Ashwin (1 batting) was playing alongside home crowd favourite K S Bharat (6 batting) at the break

There aren’t any demons in the pitch and considering England’s batting approach, India would want to bat for as long as possible and set a massive target for the visitors. Gill stole the show with a third Test hundred but Axar also looked assured batting at number six. A back-foot punch followed by a cover drive off James Anderson at the start of the session set the tone for his innings.

Gill, who had completed his half century before lunch, continued to attack the spinners. Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed tried the round the wicket tactic but it did not work as Gill stepped out to smash him for a straight six before unleashing the sweep and on-drive for back to back fours in the same over.

The India number three got to three figures off Bashir in the 52nd over and his celebration was rather a muted one, as if he expected a lot more consistency out of himself. He had completed his first 50 plus score in 13 innings.

With Ben Stokes going for a short mid-on and short mid-wicket, Gill was trapped into playing a reverse sweep off Bashir. The ball deflected from Gill’s gloves and keeper Ben Foakes pouched an easy catch.

Closer to tea, Axar also departed after a flat ball from Hartley kept a tad low and as per replays, was crashing into the stumps. In the morning, Anderson struck twice in a relentless spell before Gill rode his luck to complete a much-needed half-century to take India to 130 for four at lunch.