Mumbai: Skipper Virat Kohli and opener Murali Vijay hit superb centuries to power India to 451/7 at stumps on the third day for a crucial 51-run first innings lead against England in the fourth Test here on Saturday.
Kohli’s (147 not out) assuring presence helped them immensely after India were reduced to 348/6 at tea from 247/2 at lunch, in response to England’s first innings score of 400. Jayant Yadav (30 not out) was at the crease at stumps.
Vijay scored 136 to put India in a strong position from where they slipped before Kohli took control.
Karun Nair (13), Parthiv Patel (15) and Ravichandran Ashwin (0) all departed in quick succession to raise fears of India conceding a vital first innings lead. But the Kohli-Jadeja stand has come in the way of England and could be crucial to India’s interests of taking the lead. Joe Root (2-18), Jake Ball (1-18), Moeen Ali (2-139) and Adil Rashid (2-152) were most successful bowlers for England.
Earlier in the first phase of play, Vijay’s finely-composed century vaulted India to a healthy 247/2 at lunch. Vijay struck his eighth ton and second of the series, to guide India to a strong position in response to England’s score of 400, after resuming at their overnight score of 146/1. Vijay completed his century with a single in the 72nd over of India’s innings, hitting nine fours and three sixes. Kohli also achieved a personal milestone, completing 4000 Test runs, as India accumulated 101 runs in 31 overs in the morning phase of play.
