Summary

  • England close with 126-run lead and with four second-innings wickets in hand

  • Pope stars for England with increasingly-assured century

  • Ashwin bowls Stokes with sharp spinning delivery

  • Bumrah's brilliant spell of reverse swing removes Duckett and Root

  • India bowled out for 436 - a lead of 190

  • Root takes two wickets in two balls, including Jadeja for 87

  1. Pope gives England hope with sensational centurypublished at 11:42 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    Ollie PopeImage source, Getty Images

    So is it game on? I'm sorry but you're going to have to get your alarm clocks set.

    We'll be back at 03:45 GMT on Sunday morning to see if England can worry India.

    Scroll down below for all of the reaction to a special day for Ollie Pope.

    That was fun.

  2. 'Important for us to have so many positives this early on'published at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    More from Joe Root: "It was a nice pitch to bowl on! For a part-timer like me to pick up four wickets, there must be something in it. But for us as a group, it's about how we want to go about things and ask questions.

    "Everything that we've done today is very good for us to take forward not just for tomorrow but for the rest of the series. It is a long old tour, there will be ups and downs and momentum will swing different ways.

    "But it's really important for us to have so many positives this early on. It shows a lot about our mentality as a group because we never feel out of the game. We are on our way to a good position now and we've got to push on tomorrow.

    "We're going to keep playing how we play. Ollie recognised certain situations throughout the game, he managed the reverse swing but also was able to manipulate the field and pick it up when he had to as well."

  3. 'Absolute masterclass' from Pope - Rootpublished at 11:39 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    England batter Joe Root on TNT Sports: "It was a brilliant day of cricket for us. The way we played and went about it from the very beginning - we were very clinical with the ball and didn't let them capitalise on what they did yesterday.

    "The opening stand with the bat was brilliant. It could have been tricky, but they have been so crucial for us over the past couple of years. There were partnerships after that too, when we had to get through that tricky phase when it was reversing - some of us didn't quite manage that.

    "But the way Ollie played was an absolute masterclass on how to bat in this part of the world. When you're not used to playing out here time and time again, you only get the odd tour here and there, it was truly phenomenal.

    "He consistently made the right decisions under pressure, in the big moments in a big game and after everything he's been through with his injuries. We are all so chuffed for him to lay a marker down like that early in the series, to get us back into the series."

  4. 'India favourites but England back in it'published at 11:33 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    Deep Dasgupta
    Former India wicketkeeper

    That was a great day of Test cricket. England won the first and third sessions, India the second. You can't get a better Test day.

    England are back in the game. Rehan looked quite handy. Another 40 or 50 runs and we could have an interesting day four or five.

    India are still favourites but England are back in this Test for sure.

  5. Postpublished at 11:31 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    Ben DuckettImage source, Getty Images

    England have scored 57 runs with the reverse sweep against spin in this Test - the most in a match by any team since records began in 2006.

  6. Postpublished at 11:29 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    Joe Root has just described Ollie Pope's knock as an "absolute masterclass".

  7. Postpublished at 11:29 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    Ollie PopeImage source, Getty Images

    Here's some analysis from our friends at CricViz which tells you how Ollie Pope built his innings today...

    Pope, who usually prefers playing off the back foot against spinners, changed his usual game, playing 72% shots off the front in this innings - the highest percentage in his Test career.

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:24 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    #bbccricket, via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (standard network charges apply)

    I wasn’t a religious man at the start of the day, but now I love the pope.

    Tom, in Dubai

  9. Postpublished at 11:20 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    Ollie PopeImage source, Getty Images

    That, you have to say, has been a very, very good day for England.

    They dismissed India while only conceding 15 runs and have since wiped out the hosts 190-run lead before building one of their own.

    Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett provided the good start but Ollie Pope will take all of the headlines.

    Jasprit Bumrah threatened to finish this match today but Pope has stood firm to ensure we have a game on our hands.

  10. Postpublished at 11:15 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    Ollie Pope gets a nice pat on the back from Shubman Gill on the way off before he's serenaded with chants of "Ole, ole, ole, ole, Ollie Pope, Pope, Pope..." from the stands.

    He's greeted by his applauding team-mates on the boundary edge too.

  11. Close of play - Eng 316-6published at 11:13 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    Lead by 126

    Rehan Ahmed survives and Ollie Pope has ensured England do too.

    They're alive and kicking.

  12. Eng 315-6published at 76.2 overs

    Ravichandran Ashwin is bowling the final over. Rehan Ahmed has short leg and slip for company...

    That said, Ahmed climbs into a short ball and smashes it for four!

  13. Eng 311-6published at 76 overs

    Pope 148, Ahmed 11

    Ravindra Jadeja has just bowled his sixth no-ball of the day. That's a little ragged.

    Can Ollie Pope sneak to 150 in the final over? He won't have the strike...

  14. Eng 305-6published at 75 overs

    Lead by 115

    Another India misfield, this time from Mohammed Siraj, gives England a bonus single. Both teams would be happy to nip off two overs early now, I reckon. England want to get to the close. India want a rest.

  15. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:04 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    #bbccricket

    Matt Chapman: Whether England somehow win or lose like everyone expected, Pope’s innings will have to go down as one of England's finest in a long time. How he has scored the runs, the situation of the match and his response after his first innings. Brilliantly played.

  16. Eng 304-6published at 74 overs

    Pope 145, Ahmed 8

    Ollie Pope comes forward in solid defence. There are just three overs to go now.

  17. Postpublished at 11:02 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner

    It has been a superb batting effort. 190 behind in India? You're staring down the barrel of just getting rolled over so you go out there, play a few shots and hope for the best.

    But the clarity of thought that every batter has had, they have been positive from ball one. In India, you can't just come out and skip down the pitch to every ball and hit it out the park.

    But that isn't what Bazball is. It is getting momentum, but without taking loads of risks. Both Crawley and Duckett have been excellent, setting the tone and given the others some confidence to feed from.

  18. Eng 300-6published at 73 overs

    Lead by 110

    Having taken on board the energy boost there's still some stiffness in Bumrah's prancing run up but he manages to beat Rehan Ahmed outside off stump.

    "Boom-boom-Bumrah" chant the crowd and Ollie Pope has a quiet word with his batting partner.

    Wise, I reckon.

  19. Postpublished at 10:57 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    Deep Dasgupta
    Former India wicketkeeper

    Ollie PopeImage source, Getty Images

    The reverse sweep was a go-to shot of mine - it is a must in India on these types of pitches.

    In modern cricket, spinners are bowling faster and flatter so the usual attacking intent of coming down the pitch and taking them on down the ground isn't as easy, so that's where the sweep comes in.

    It is a very effective way of turning a good ball into a scoring opportunity and that's what Ollie Pope has done perfectly. He has reached the pitch of the ball and smothered it, whereas in the past England batters would often get caught on the crease.

  20. Eng 299-6published at 72.2 overs

    As I said, Bumrah was superb after lunch when he dismissed Duckett and Root in an electric spell of reverse swing but his first ball here is on the pads and is clipped for four.

    He's pulled up after two balls too, I think with cramp. He's taking on a energy gel or similar.