Dom Bess took centre stage with four wickets as England hammered home their advantage in the first Test against India.
The hosts responded to an imposing first-innings score of 578 by scrapping to 6-257 at stumps, with Bess running through a high-class middle order.
Capturing India captain Virat Kohli at bat-pad for just 11 was the off-spinner’s moment of the day – and probably his career thus far – and he also ended a thrilling counterattack from Rishabh Pant for 91.
He relied on good fielding and good fortune too, Joe Root taking a brilliant one-handed catch to see off Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara was left aghast when his pull shot looped to midwicket via a huge deflection off the cowering Ollie Pope.
Bess ended with figures of 4-55, another significant return for a player who is clearly learning on the job as a Test cricketer but regularly finds a way to meet the challenges in front of him.
With Jofra Archer earlier accounting for both openers with the new ball, England walked off at stumps 321 ahead and with a big chance to open up the road to a series-opening victory.
AP/RSS
