India v England: Ollie Pope keeps England hopes alive with remarkable century

India had looked to be heading for an innings victory before Pope, accompanied in a 112-run partnership by Ben Foakes, summoned a terrific fightback

Hyderabad (day three of five): England 246 & 316-6, India 436 - England lead by 126 runs with four wickets remaining

Ollie Pope's brilliant century held up India's victory charge on the third day of the first Test in Hyderabad.

Pope's fifth Test century was also his first score higher than 34 in India and came two days after a skittish, worrying performance in the first innings.

With immense skill, he guided England past the threat of an innings defeat and reached three figures while accompanied by Surrey teammate Ben Foakes.

Before their stand, it had looked as though Jasprit Bumrah would have the deciding say on Saturday. He had intervened to spectacular effect after Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett had given England a perfect, positive start once the final three Indian first-innings wickets had fallen quickly in the morning.

^{Pope played ssuperbly, regularly turning to his reverse-sweep (Stu Forster/Getty Images)}

Bumrah bowled Duckett (47) with an inswinger before trapping Joe Root (2) in front almost immediately afterwards. Zak Crawley (31) had earlier edged Ravichandran Ashwin to slip.

From then on, India were in charge, only to be slowed in their search of victory by Pope. Jonny Bairstow was bowled shouldering arms to Ravindra Jadeja, who had earlier fallen 13 runs short of a Test century, trapped in front by Root, who ended with four wickets.

Ashwin then tied up Ben Stokes before ripping a full delivery past his outside edge and into off-stump.

Stokes, who made six in 33 balls, has been dismissed 12 times in Tests by the off-spinner; no one has dismissed Stokes more often in Tests, Ashwin has dismissed no other batter more often.

England were still behind at that stage and there was no guarantee that India would have to bat again until Pope's intervention, which keeps the tourists interested, even if the home side remain favourites, particularly after Foakes was undone by one that kept low.

The Cricketer's chief correspondent George Dobell will be providing full analysis and reaction from day two in Hyderabad.

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