England vs India 2018, 4th Test, Day 3: Jos Buttler, Sam Curran Give England Advantage

Day three of the 4^th Test between India and England finished on evens stevens, as England clawed their way back and batted pretty well to push the visitors into a tricky situation. England finished the day on 260/8, leading India by 233 runs. Wicket-keeper batsman, Jos Buttler scored a brilliant half-century and was well supported by Sam Curran, as England took their lead near to 250.

Buttler, Curran save England’s day

England began the day’s play on 6/0. After a 24-run opening stand, Alastair Cook gave away his wicket cheaply yet again to Jasprit Bumrah.

Moeen Ali got promoted up the batting order. However, he was also dismissed pretty cheaply by Ishant Sharma. After the opening Test, Joe Root finally came back to his groove and batted superbly. He looked well set for a half-century before Mohammed Shami ran him out quite brilliantly.

England defied the India bowlers for a long time

Keaton Jennings also looked in good touch and scored an impressive 36 before Shami trapped him plumb in front with a brilliant inswinging delivery. Shami bagged the wickets of Jennings and Jonny Bairstow on either side of the lunch interval.

He castled Bairstow with a pearler of a delivery. It was a terrible shot, and it breached through his defence to disturb the timbers.

All-rounder Ben Stokes also looked resolute out in the middle and faced as many as 110 deliveries for his 30 runs. Ravichandran Ashwin eventually dismissed him. On the other end, Jos Buttler was going on great guns. He was defeated outside the off stump on several occasions by Shami and Bumrah. He went onto score 69 before it was Ishant Sharma who trapped him right in front with an incoming delivery.

Sam Curran has been a thorn in the flesh for the visiting team. The southpaw has come up with useful contributions whenever he has come out to bat in the series.

Even on day three, he batted quite superbly and remained unbeaten on 37 at stumps. However, the hosts lost Adil Rashid on the final over of the day when Shami induced an edge from his blade. The match is currently in the balance. Moreover, it looks like well-poised encounter and both teams have a chance of winning the game.

England vs India 2018, Southampton – Brief Scores

England 1^st innings 246 all-out in 76.4 overs (Sam Curran 78, Jasprit Bumrah 3/46)

India 1^st innings 273 all-out in 84.5 overs (Cheteshwar Pujara 132, Moeen Ali 5/63)

England 2nd innings 260/8 in 91.5 overs (Jos Buttler 69, Joe Root 48, Mohammed Shami 3/53)

England lead by 233 runs