As the sky opened at Trent Bridge, play on the third day of the first Test between India and England had to be abandoned 10 overs into England’s second innings. English openers Dominic Sibley (9 runs off 33 balls) and Rory Burns (11 runs off 38 balls) battled the Indian pacers and will resume tomorrow. The Joe Root-led side were at 25/0 and trail India by 70 runs.

ALSO READ | James Anderson dismisses Virat Kohli for a first-ball duck. Watch

Earlier, a prudent 84 by opener KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja’s 56-run knock and some useful runs by the tail-enders took India to 278 runs in their first innings in reply to England’s 183. For England, Ollie Robinson came back with a fifer and pacer James Anderson took four wickets.

Robinson, who recently came back from suspension due to racism charges, bowled the hard lengths to pick up 5 for 85 in 26.5 overs, however, James Anderson’s 4 for 54 was, perhaps, more impactful in the context of the Indian innings.

Anderson dismissed Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Virat Kohli off successive deliveries, bringing his side back into the series opener and putting the opposition under pressure.  

On the day, Anderson became the third-highest wicket-taker in Test cricket when he surpassed Indian legend Anil Kumble. Only Muttiah Muralitharan and Shane Warne remain ahead of the veteran seamer now.

For India, while opener Rahul laid the foundation with a well-made 84, Jadeja snatched the initiative with his characteristic enterprise, hitting eight fours and a six, in his 56 off 86 deliveries. 

The chatter around all-rounder Jadeja being preferred over specialist off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin would stop for the time being as the optimistic visitors focus on things more important to take them closer to victory and a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Although England openers have cut down 25 runs from the first-innings deficit, India still have their nose ahead going into the final two days of the game.