DAY 3 – LUNCH
Smith smashed a hundred off just 80 balls © Getty
Jamie Smith’s 102*, well supported by Harry Brook’s 91*, saw England consolidate to 249/5 after a double-jolt early on Day 3 of the Edgbaston Test. Mohammad Siraj took out Joe Root and Ben Stokes on successive deliveries in his very first over, but a brisk 165-run unbroken partnership between the sixth-wicket pair kept India at bay for the rest of the morning session on Friday (July 4).
It was an ominous start for the hosts who found themselves under immense pressure 10 balls into the session. First to depart was Root, who tried to flick a leg-side delivery and tickled it to the left of Rishabh Pant behind the stumps. Stokes was then greeted with a mean short ball first up from Siraj that climbed on him awkwardly and kissed the handle of his bat on his way to the ‘keeper.
Down to 84/5, England looked in serious trouble but the arrival of Jamie Smith bought urgency in their scoring. And they were further aided by a lean slip cordon that allowed for easy scoring opportunities. The English wicketkeeper sent the hat-trick ball straight down the ground for a four to get going, and raced to become the joint third-fastest centurion for England, getting to the landmark in just 80 balls.
Brook too eased into it and started finding regular boundaries off Indian pacers. He reached his half-century in 72 balls, driving through the covers beautifully but only for three. At the other end, Smith laid into Prasidh Krishna to almost catch up with the half-centurion in the space of six balls. Smith plucked four boundaries and a six in a 23-run over to race to 38-ball 49 just before the drinks break quickly. England, with that remarkable recovery, had collected 83 runs in the first hour despite the early setbacks, and the hundred of the partnership between Smith and Brook came in just 90 deliveries.
Smith was relentless thereafter pulling the short-pitched stuff from Prasidh comfortably to the ropes. India brought spin from both ends, but Smith welcomed Wshington Sundar into the attack with back-to-back drives through extra cover to go on to outscore his partner at the other end. He then took on Ravindra Jadeja with a four and six the following over. At the stroke of Lunch, he brought up an 80-ball half-century with the second of the consecutive fours off Jadeja – sharing the record with his partner at the other end.
Brook, meanwhile, went to Lunch nine away from his. England plundered 172 runs in the fast-paced session, but still trail India by 338.
Brief scores: England 249/5 (Jamei Smith 102*, Harry Brook 91*; Mohd. Siraj 3-49) trail India 587, by 338 runs.
© Cricbuzz
