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. Eng 177-5published at 43 overs

    Lovely! Ben Foakes was looking a little tentative but he gets his first boundary with a sublime cover drive to end Axar Patel's over.

  2. Postpublished at 09:02 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    Here we go then.

    Pope and Foakes skip out to the middle, while Rohit Sharma gathers his men into a huddle.

    Five wickets left, 18 runs behind. Tricky.

  3. Postpublished at 08:59 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    Ollie PopeImage source, Getty Images

    One man has stood tall though, and I'll be honest - it's not the one I expected.

    Ollie Pope has been brilliant, quite the turnaround from his first-innings wobble.

    He has barely put a foot wrong. He has swept, driven and defended solidly, showing good judgement and being proactive, not allowing the bowlers to settle.

    He will be hoping Ben Foakes can stick around with him for a while longer.

  4. Postpublished at 08:56 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    The spin did account for Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes, however. Bairstow was done like a kipper by Ravi Jadeja, the spinner expertly getting one to turn sharply past his outside edge before deceiving Bairstow with a straight one - making him look rather foolish after being bowled leaving it.

    Stokes was done by Ravichandran Ashwin, a beauty that pitched on middle and turned past the captain's defence to take off stump.

    England's task was difficult anyway but with both seamers and spinners getting it right in tandem, it's highlighted just how hard India are to beat in their own conditions.

  5. Postpublished at 08:53 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    Jasprit Bumrah celebrating the wicket of Joe RootImage source, Getty Images

    We were all worried about the spin, given the turn that Joe Root got earlier this morning to take India's last three wickets.

    But as Deep Dasgupta mentioned, it was the pace of the majestic Jasprit Bumrah that led India's resurgence. Personally, he is one of my favourite cricketers in the world, and his skill often leaves me bewildered.

    It was another of those instances as he set up Ben Duckett beautifully with an inswinger, before pinning Joe Root in front lbw.

  6. Postpublished at 08:49 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    Thanks, Matt.

    Well, after winning the first two sessions pretty comfortably, England are now in a bit of a pickle again.

    For those of you lucky enough to get a Saturday lie-in, I'll give you a quick recap.

  7. Postpublished at 08:46 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    Will this day go the distance? I'll be back later if so.

    In better news for you, Ffion Wynne is back to take over in the meantime.

  8. Postpublished at 08:44 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    Deep Dasgupta
    Former India wicketkeeper

    The session comfortably belongs to India.

    England started very well but Jasprit Bumrah changed that with his magnificent spell to get India back on top.

    The spinners did a fabulous job. England's run rate is good as always but the four wickets are big for India.

  9. Tea - Eng 172-5published at 42 overs

    Trail by 18

    Jadeja fires down another maiden and the run-rate in the last 10 overs is now below two. A time when that has happened previously in the Bazball era does not immediately spring to mind.

    After a few confused looks around, the umpires decide that is tea.

  10. Eng 172-5published at 41 overs

    Wicketkeeper KS Bharat is flicking into English occasionally with his chirps behind the stumps. "Another one here, boys," he says.

    Ollie Pope defends through a maiden.

  11. Eng 172-5published at 40 overs

    Trail by 18

    England's deficit is into the teens. Be honest, did you think they'd get there?

  12. Eng 170-5published at 39 overs

    Pope 66, Foakes 1

    I'm with Deep. There was something that didn't quite look right in how Stokes was beaten. Maybe he should have been further forward.

    Ravichandran Ashwin has a fielder straight behind the bowler's arm to Pope, in between long-off and long-on. Long ump, perhaps?

  13. Postpublished at 08:31 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    Deep Dasgupta
    Former India wicketkeeper

    It was a beautiful bit of bowling - flat, drift, turn - everything you want as a spinner. But as a batter, you magnify all of that if you don't use your feet.

    If you look at Ollie Pope and Ben Duckett in their innings, they have been getting a big stride in and smothering the turn. Looking at Ben Stokes', just a few inches longer in his stride would get his ball to the bat and cover the turn. It was a very good bit of bowling but I do think Duckett and Pope have set the blueprint.

  14. Eng 166-5published at 38 overs

    Trail by 24

    Ben Foakes is beaten again, this time on the back foot.

    I wouldn't bank on the cricket taking up your Sunday morning.

  15. Postpublished at 08:28 Greenwich Mean Time 27 January

    Phil Tufnell
    Former England spinner

    Another big spinning delivery from Ashwin to get Stokes. Another absolute ripper.

    England are in all sorts of trouble as Ben Foakes, the last recognised batter, comes in. This partnership is key to at least give the bowlers something.

  16. Eng 163-5published at 37 overs

    Trail by 27

    Ben Foakes made only four in the first innings and is beaten first up in the second.

  17. wicket

    WICKETpublished at 36.5 overs

    Stokes b Ashwin 6 (Eng 163-5)

    Ben Stokes is bowledImage source, Getty Images

    For the 12th time in Tests, Ravichandran Ashwin has Ben Stokes. The England captain has tried to dig in but the ball turns sharply as he defends and hits off stump.

    India now sense victory today.

  18. Eng 159-4published at 36 overs

    There's another good crowd in again today. Some England fans are enjoying an ice cream in the heat.

    There are 20 minutes to go until tea.

  19. Eng 157-4published at 35 overs

    Pope 57, Stokes 4

    There are so few bad balls for England's batters to hit. That's where the big difference has been between the two bowling attacks.

    Duckett and Crawley were really looking to score earlier but Stokes still looks happy to take a more conservative approach.

  20. Eng 157-4published at 34 overs

    Trail by 33

    Still, it's great to see West Indies digging in. A win is not totally out of the question there. I bet they fancy a dart under the lights later.

    I'm still waiting for some useful wedding speech tips. You've not been very helpful this morning.