England vs India 3rd Test Day 1: Kohli, Rahane give India a slight edge

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Virat Kohli 97 England India 3rd Test Day 1 Nottingham cricket

Virat Kohli fell three runs short of his 23rd Test century

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

India captain Virat Kohli and batsman Ajinkya Rahane scored 97 and 81 respectively to hand their side a slim advantage over England on the opening day in Nottingham.

Being put in to bat first, India made a good start to their innings as openers Shikhar Dhawan and Lokesh Rahul amassed a 60-run partnership before Dhawan was caught by Jos Buttler at second slip off the bowling of Chris Woakes for 35.

Woakes struck again in his next over as he trapped Rahul lbw for 23.

Rahul opted to review the decision, but it didn’t go in his favour as replays showed the ball was pitching in line and going on to hit leg stump.

Things went from bad to worse for India as on the stroke of lunch, Cheteshwar Pujara was caught by Adil Rashid at long leg off the bowling of Woakes for 14.

After the lunch break, India came out firing on all cylinders as Kohli and Rahane forged a 159-run partnership, during which both batsmen surpassed their fifties.

With India cruising, England tried to do everything in their power to get another breakthrough.

Ultimately, it was Stuart Broad who got the job done as Rahane was brilliantly caught by Alastair Cook at first slip for 81, which came off 131 balls and included 12 boundaries.

Kohli went on to score 97 off 152 deliveries, which included 11 boundaries, before he was caught by Ben Stokes at slip off the bowling of Rashid.

India were dealt another major blow as the first day was coming to a close as Hardik Pandya was caught by Buttler at second slip off the bowling of James Anderson for 18.

As soon as Pandya was dismissed, stumps was called. As a result, debutant Rishabh Pant was left unbeaten on 22 off 32 balls, which included two boundaries and a six, which he hit off the second ball he faced.

Woakes was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Broad, Anderson and Rashid claimed one wicket each.

India ended day one on 307/6 and will continue batting on Sunday at 11:00 local time or 10:00 GMT.

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