India reached 215/2 in their second innings at stumps on the third day of the third Test against England in Leeds on Friday. The hosts took a massive first-innings lead of 354 runs before being all out for 432 in their first innings at Headingley.

When the stumps were drawn, Cheteshwar Pujara was batting on 91 and giving him company was captain Virat Kohli on 45.

Rohit Sharma once again showed a lot of patience to bring up his second half-century of the series as India reached 112/1 at tea against England on the third day of the third Test on Friday. He was ably supported by Cheteshwar Pujara. Rohit (59 batting off 142 balls), who hit his 14th Test half-century, added 78 runs with Pujara (40 batting, 72 balls), who struck as many as seven boundaries and matched Rohit stroke for stroke.

Earlier, India lost opener KL Rahul (8 off 54 balls) at the stroke of lunch to reach 34 on the third day in their bid to save the third Test against England after conceding a huge 354-run first-innings lead. Rohit Sharma was still batting on 25 off 61 balls.

KL Rahul was sent packing with a one-hand Bairstow stunner off Craig Overton (5-2-5-1). India still have to bat eight sessions (two days and two sessions). India trailed by 320 runs at the break.

Earlier, strikes from Indian pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami saw the English innings fold at 432 on the third day of the third Test against India. The hosts now have a massive lead of 354 runs. England, who began the day at 423/8, could only bat for 3.2 overs in the morning session. While Shami removed Craig Overton, Ollie Robinson was done in by Bumrah.

On Thursday, in-form England skipper Joe Root smashed his third hundred of the series to take guide his team to an imposing total.

India will have to bat extremely well to first avoid an innings defeat and then try to save the game. The 139-run stand between Root and Dawid Malan on day two set up the foundation for a big score.

Century No 3 from Root’s bat defined the second day. India currently are staring down the barrel with a mammoth task, needing a miracle, in front of them.

The visitors will first have to bat and keep batting for the two days in the match to leave Leeds with a 1-0 lead in the series.

Also read: 3rd Test: Dawid Malan all praises for ‘phenomenal’ Joe Root

On Day 2, Root led from the front with his 8th hundred against India, a splendid 121 off 165 balls laced with 14 hits to the fence. He added 139 runs with Dawid Malan (70) before sharing a 52-run stand with Jonny Bairstow (29) to put England in a commanding position with three days to go in the match.

For India, Mohammed Shami (4/95) was the most successful bowler with three wickets, while Ravindra Jadeja (2/88), Mohammed Siraj (2/86) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/59) were the other wickettakers.

On Wednesday, England had dismissed India for a paltry 78 in 40.4 overs.

Brief Scores: India 1st innings: 78 allout in 40.4 overs (Rohit Sharma 19, Ajinkya Rahane 18; James Anderson 3/6, Craig Overton 3/14).

England 1st innings: 423 for 8 in 129 overs (Joe Root 121, Mohammed Shami 3/87).

Playing XI:

India: Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj

England: Rory Burns, Haseeb Hameed, Dawid Malan, Joe Root (c), Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler (wk), Moeen Ali, Sam Curran, Craig Overton, Ollie Robinson, James Anderson