By Dave Clark
Stuart Broad and James Anderson took three India wickets apiece as England closed in on a sizeable first-innings lead after three days of the third Investec Test at the Ageas Bowl.
The hosts had to be patient in the field in scorching conditions, and were rewarded with regular scalps throughout the day for some consistent bowling.
Broad struck twice in the morning session before Anderson and spinner Moeen Ali took a wicket apiece before tea.
Anderson, Broad and Moeen then claimed a victim each in the final session as India closed on 323 for eight– still 246 runs behind – despite a defiant unbeaten 50 from skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Responding to England’s mammoth 569 for seven declared, India resumed the day on 25 for one after Anderson dismissed Shikhar Dhawan last night.
A couple of early edges fell short of the slip cordon, but Cheteshwar Pujara gloved a short delivery from Broad on 24 to give Jos Buttler the easiest of maiden Test catches behind the stumps.
Murali Vijay had provided some stoic resistance in his 95-ball innings of 35, but after wafting at a Broad delivery outside off stump, played on to the next ball after hesitating whether to leave.
Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane both produced some classy shots on an even-paced wicket, only for the former to perish for 39 when he edged Anderson to Alastair Cook at first slip having survived a similar chance off Chris Jordan’s previous over.
Rahane was particularly strong square of the wicket on both sides as he brought up his half-century and added 74 for the fifth scalp with Rohit Sharma, but both players threw their wicket away in similar circumstances either side of the tea interval.
Rohit had made 28 when he tamely chipped Moeen to Broad at mid-off, and five minutes into the evening session Rahane attempted a big heave off the same bowler only to pick out the substitute fielder at midwicket for 54.
Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja launched a counter-attack against the second new ball, although the latter was lucky to see Joe Root spill a one-handed chance off Broad in the gully.
Anderson eventually ended Jadeja’s cameo 31 with one that swung back to the left-hander, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar was well taken at third slip by Gary Ballance off Broad.
Dhoni and Mohammed Shami will resume in the morning needing 47 runs to avoid the follow-on, with only last man debutant Pankaj Singh to come.
Match scorecard / Live ball-by-ball commentary
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Evening Session
6.34pm - STUMPS! Ind 323/8; Dhoni 50, Shami 4 – England enjoy a third good day in succession, having done well to take seven India wickets in scorching conditions today. The tourists still trail by 246 runs.
Here are the leading wicket-takers for England. Anderson & Broad edging up the list: #EngvIndhttp://t.co/J5Zw78aFsrpic.twitter.com/1kg9IzCGQq
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 29, 2014
6.29pm - FIFTY! Dhoni (103b 5x4 1x6) - Dhoni survives a big lbw shout from Broad which appeared to be slipping down leg, then thrashes the same bowler over mid-off for four to reach his half-century.
6.23pm – Jordan beats Dhoni’s edge a couple of times, before Mohammed Shami is almost run out by Moeen while scampering a quick single.
6.15pm - WICKET! Bhuvneshwar c Ballance b Broad 19; Ind 313/8 - Bhuvneshwar’s little cameo ends as an inside edge loops up – it looks like being another chance that drops short, but Gary Ballance is alert and snaffles the chance.
6.10pm – Bhuvneshwar thumps another short and wide ball from Broad to the cover boundary, but the bowler responds well – getting one to nip away and catch an edge that falls short before cutting him in half with the final delivery of the over. Dhoni clatters Moeen over cow corner for six in the next over.
6.06pm – Bhuvneshwar is clearly not your average number nine, twice flashing Broad to the off-side boundary off the back foot to bring up the 300 for India.
B Kumar has faced 461* balls in this series, the most by any No. 9 in a series, beating Saqlain Mushtaq (447-ball v Zim 1996/97). #EngvInd
— Cricket Record (@cricinfo_record) July 29, 2014
5.54pm – Bhuvneshwar finally gets off the mark with an edged four off Woakes which ventures through the gap between third slip and gully.
5.45pm – Woakes is unlucky to be without a wicket as he twice beats the edge of Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s bat.
5.41pm – Dhoni crashes Anderson through the covers for four, then flicks one off his legs for another boundary.
5.29pm - WICKET! Jadeja lbw Anderson 32; Ind 275/7 - Jadeja’s assault against the second new ball comes to an end as Anderson gets one to swing back in and trap him plumb in front.
Here is how England seamers are bowling to Jadeja with the second ball: #EngvInd http://t.co/J5Zw78aFsr pic.twitter.com/tvVo90XUL6
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 29, 2014
5.23pm – Jadeja has no intention of reining in his attacking instincts, hitting further boundaries off Chris Woakes and Anderson to bring up the fifty partnership.
5.09pm – Jadeja thumps Broad through mid-on for four, before Dhoni goes for a very quick single that may have seen him out with a direct hit.
4.56pm - CHANCE! - Jadeja gets a thick outside edge off Broad, but Joe Root fails to cling on one-handed in the gully.
4.51pm – The new ball comes, and James Anderson has a huge lbw appeal turned down against Dhoni – height probably the issue.
4.39pm – Jordan fires a wide one outside off, and Dhoni has a big waft at it – luckily for India the ball flashes past the edge of the skipper’s blade.
4.36pm – Moeen goes up for a leg before against Jadeja, but nothing doing with the ball hitting outside off and probably going on to miss the stumps. The second new ball is available in three overs.
4.21pm – Dhoni launches a counter-attack, hammering Moeen down the ground for four and sweeping a couple to square leg. Ravindra Jadeja is in at eight, and Chris Jordan is on to have a bowl at him.
4.10pm - WICKET! Rahane c sub (Terry) b Moeen 54; Ind 217/6 - Rahane had added just two runs since tea when he goes for a big heave off Moeen, only to sky it to sub Sean Terry at midwicket.
4.04pm – Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad are first up with the ball after tea, and Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Ajinkya Rahane both get going with a single apiece.
Afternoon Session
3.40pm - TEA! Ind 214/5; Rahane 52, Dhoni 2 - Rohit’s wicket shortly before the break has given England a huge lift, and if the hosts can pick up a couple more this evening it will give them every chance of forcing a positive result.
WICKET: Rohit can't believe what he's done. Chipping one straight to mid-off. Soft dismissal. 212/5. #EngvInd pic.twitter.com/4TlL980msw
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 29, 2014
3.34pm - WICKET! Rohit c Broad b Moeen 28; Ind 210/5 - Just as India looked to be playing their way out of trouble, Rohit inexplicably goes for a big shot shortly before tea and only succeeds in finding Broad at mid-off.
3.29pm – Moeen appeals loudly for an lbw against Rohit, but umpire Rod Tucker says no and it’s a good decision as replays show a thin inside edge.
3.20pm - FIFTY! Rahane (92b 5x4 0x6) - Rahane takes a quick single to mid-on and brings up a well-compiled half-century. England will be ruing that glove behind earlier that was missed by the umpire.
Rohit and Rahane looking strong for India here. 50 partnership up. #EngvInd pic.twitter.com/6QAysZUCoE
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 29, 2014
3.17pm – With little assistance in terms of swing, Rahane and Rohit start to up the scoring rate – the latter smashing Moeen down the ground and the former creaming Woakes through midwicket. Woakes responds well with a couple that deviate away from Rahane and beat the outside edge.
3.06pm – Moeen and Broad are pressing for another wicket, but Rahane and Rohit look fairly well set as they close in on a fifty partnership. The bowlers are operating in shortish spells, presumably due to the searing heat.
2.55pm – Rahane hits Jordan for consecutive boundaries, but Broad beats his outside edge in the next over.
2.42pm – Jordan has settled in to a good little spell here, and poses some questions to Rohit in a maiden over. At the other end Stuart Broad is firing them in just back of length, as England apply a good spell of pressure.
2.23pm – New batsman Rohit Sharma goes for an ill-advised clip across the line to Jordan, but gets lucky as his outside edge falls in front of the three slip fielders. Anderson almost bowls Rahane next over with one that keeps very low and scampers past Jos Buttler for four byes.
104 - Alastair Cook (104) has gone clear of Graham Gooch as the fielder with sixth most Test catches for England. Slipper.
— OptaJim (@OptaJim) July 29, 2014
2.12pm - WICKET! Kohli c Cook b Anderson 39; Ind 136/4 – Kohli had played some pleasing shots, but dangles his bat out to Anderson and nicks behind, where Cook takes a far simpler catch than the one which eluded him in the previous over.
DROPPED CATCH: Great effort though from Cook. He was totally committed. Just a tad high. 136/3. pic.twitter.com/Nxk1C1DouO
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 29, 2014
2.05pm - CHANCE! – Chris Jordan comes into the attack and catches the edge of Kohli’s bat as the batsman flashes at one. Alastair Cook gets his fingertips to it at first slip, but the ball sails over his head to the boundary.
2.03pm – Hampshire batsman Sean Terry is the man fielding in place of Ian Bell. Anderson and Chris Woakes are plugging away gamely, but the India batsmen have looked largely untroubled since lunch.
. @Ian_Bell update: No fracture, acute bruising so he'll remain off the field for treatment #EngvInd
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) July 29, 2014
1.47pm – Moeen Ali and James Anderson open the bowling after lunch, but there’s not much doing and Ajinkya Rahane crashes the spinner through the covers for four.
Morning Session
1pm - LUNCH! Ind 108/3; Kohli 18, Rahane 11 – A Woakes bouncer sees Kohli fall to the deck as he takes evasive action, but there are no further wickets before lunch. It’s been a good session for England, with India still 461 behind with seven first-innings wickets remaining.
CHANCE: Ali and Buttler go up in celebration but nothing given. However, snicko shows there was a bit of glove. pic.twitter.com/OtVjHqrzSE
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 29, 2014
12.49pm – Rahane greets Moeen with a beautiful cover-driven four, but is beaten by Woakes outside off stump in the next over. There’s then a big escape as Rahane gloves Moeen to Buttler behind the stumps, but umpire Rod Tucker turns down the appeal.
12.40pm – We’re going to have a first look at spin today as Moeen Ali comes in to the attack.
A perfect day at the Ageas bowl. We don't like cricket. We love it! @InvestecCricket @ECB_cricket pic.twitter.com/tricHrVPb9
— katie langdon (@ktlangers) July 29, 2014
12.28pm – New batsman Ajinkya Rahane gets off the mark with an inside edge to Broad, before Kohli takes a suicidal single to Anderson at mid-on – a direct-hit and that would have been curtains. Rahane then gets away with an attempted pull that drops in front of the catchers behind the wicket.
12.17pm - WICKET! Vijay b Broad 35; Ind 88/3 – Broad strikes again! Vijay has a waft outside off at the previous ball, then gets caught in two minds as to whether to play or leave and angles his bat out, only succeeding in deflecting the ball onto his stumps.
. @Ian_Bell is going for a precautionary xray on his left thumb #EngvInd
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) July 29, 2014
12.12pm – Broad finds Vijay’s inside edge but the ball cannons into his foot and misses the stump. A mis-timed drive off Jordan’s next over runs to third man for four.
11.57am – Virat Kohli gets off the mark with a very quick single to midwicket, as Chris Jordan replaces Anderson only to sling his opening delivery down the leg side for five wides. Kohli then picks up a nicely cover driven four later in the over.
WICKET: An early wicket is what England craved, and Broad has delivered. Pujara caught behind by Buttler. 56/2. pic.twitter.com/KtyESCN9YT
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 29, 2014
11.44am - WICKET! Pujara c Buttler b Broad 24; Ind 56/2 - A significant early breakthrough for England! Broad finds Pujara’s edge with the first ball of the over but again it lands in front of the slip cordon, but a short delivery next up catches the glove as the batsman sways back and carries through to Buttler.
11.40am – Anderson beats Vijay outside off stump, but the opener responds with a well-timed four through midwicket. An exciting over ends with a thick edge bouncing just in front of Sam Robson at second slip.
11.36am – Pujara produces a lovely on-driven four off Anderson, and Vijay welcomes Stuart Broad to the attack with a boundary through backward point. India have reached 50.
11.27am – As he did for a spell last night, Anderson goes round the wicket to Pujara but is run away to the third man boundary.
Time for the @bbctms caption competition - @MichaelVaughan showing his leaping prowess... #TMScaptioncomp #EngvInd pic.twitter.com/EC0v7eIesv
— Henry Moeran (@henrymoeranBBC) July 29, 2014
11.12am – Anderson gets one to rise steeply from back of a length, and there’s a huge appeal as the ball rips past Pujara’s glove. Rod Tucker says no, and replays suggest it’s an excellent decision as the ball missed everything on the way through. Vijay runs the first ball of the next over to the third man boundary.
11.09am – Chris Woakes gets the nod from the Pavilion End and causes Murali Vijay a few problems – most notably one that straightens and clips the inside edge before thudding into the front pad. A promising start as England seek an early breakthrough.
11.02am – James Anderson is up first, and with the ball only 14 overs old offers the four men in the slip cordon some encouragement by beating Cheteshwar Pujara’s outside edge first ball.
Pre-Play News
10.59am – A minute’s silence for those lost during World War I is impeccably observed at the Ageas Bowl.
Join us today as we & @hantscricket remember cricketers who gave their lives in WW1 - http://t.co/Q3RRY04Pmv pic.twitter.com/m0qf4gKdWm
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) July 29, 2014
Players will be marking the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War 1 today with a minutes silence before play #engvind
— BBC TMS (@bbctms) July 29, 2014
10.32am - Bell was full of praise for fellow centurion Ballance last night, and believes the pitch offers enough assistance for England’s bowlers to trouble the India batsmen today.
10.22am - Good morning and welcome to a beautiful third day at the Ageas Bowl. The sun is out on the Costa del Solent, and we should be in for an excellent day's cricket as England look to press home thier advantage and secure a series-levelling victory.