Virat Kohli is all smiles after bringing up his 23rd Test century
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
India captain Virat Kohli scored a sensational 103 as his side left England with a daunting task of chasing 521 for victory on the third day of the third Test in Nottingham.
Starting off the day on 124/2, Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara converted their 13-run partnership into a 113-run stand, during which both batsmen surpassed their half-centuries.
Cheteshwar Pujara scored his 18th Test fifty
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
With India cruising and their lead growing, England were in dire need of a breakthrough.
It was Ben Stokes who provided it as he removed Pujara for 72, which came off 208 balls and included nine boundaries.
Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane kept the runs flowing with a 57-run partnership, during which Kohli brought up his hundred.
However, shortly after doing so, Kohli was trapped lbw off the bowling of Chris Woakes for 103, which came off 197 deliveries and included 10 boundaries.
Kohli reviewed the decision, but replays showed that the ball was pitching in line and clipping leg stump.
Debutant Rishabh Pant fell the very next over, while Rahane went on to make 29 before he was clean bowled by Adil Rashid.
Rashid struck again in his next over as he removed Mohammed Shami for three runs.
Despite a quick flurry of wickets, Hardik Pandya frustrated England’s bowlers as he smashed an unbeaten 52, which came off 52 balls and included seven boundaries and a six.
Hardik Pandya struck his fourth half-century in Test cricket
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
It was at this point that Kohli decided to declare with his side on 352/7, which set England 521 to win.
Rashid was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Stokes took two, and Woakes and James Anderson chipped in with one wicket apiece.
Chasing 521 to win, England made a steady start to their innings as Keaton Jennings and Alastair Cook amassed an unbeaten 23-run partnership in the nine overs they faced before stumps was called.
Jennings finished on 13 off 27 balls, which included two boundaries, while Cook remained undefeated on nine off 28 deliveries, which included a solitary boundary.
England ended day three on 23/0 and will continue batting on Tuesday at 11:00 local time or 10:00 GMT.