Pope, Root fifties extend England's dominance

England's batters made the most of the bright sunshine and favourable conditions in a productive morning session on Day 3 of the fourth Test in Manchester. Joe Root and Ollie Pope brought up their half-centuries and put on an unbroken 135-run partnership as India endured a wicketless session that saw England reach 332/2 at Lunch, only 26 runs behind. The hosts scored 107 runs in the session in 28 overs.

Shardul Thakur and Mohammed Siraj opened the bowling before Jasprit Bumrah was introduced in the third over, only to be flicked for a four by Root. Siraj was taken for two boundaries by Pope in his second over, while Bumrah followed up with a probing spell and nearly found Pope's outside edge. India burned their second review when Siraj rapped Root on the pad, but replays showed the ball was sliding down leg.

Root had a slice of luck when Ravindra Jadeja missed a run-out opportunity at the non-striker's end. England crossed 250 as Pope pulled Bumrah for a boundary, followed by a classy four through cover-point for Root off the same bowler. During the innings, Root broke a few records - becoming the first batter to score 1000 Test runs at Old Trafford, and moving past Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis to third on the all-time Test run-scorers' list - as England got through the first hour unscathed.

India gave away extra runs through overthrows as Siraj fired in a wild throw. Dhruv Jurel was up to the stumps to Anshul Kamboj, who was bowling under 130 kph, and missed a tough take as Pope gloved one trying to run it down. Pope went on to bring up his fifty but didn't look in complete control, troubled by both Kamboj and Jadeja. But he played a nice straight drive off a full delivery from Kamboj for a four, bringing up the century partnership in the process. A couple for Pope in the same over helped England past 300.

Pope and Root also rotated the strike well when India minimised the boundaries, with a middle-and-leg line not doing the visitors any favours as the England batters were able to work it to the onside. After 68 overs in the innings, Washington Sundar was finally introduced and he saw Root play a reverse sweep for a boundary, followed by a single, as he got to half-century as well, his 104th fifty-plus score which took him to the second spot on the all-time list, ahead of Ricky Ponting. Root slammed one past Washington and played a lovely late cut off Jadeja for a couple of fours before the break.

Brief scores: India 358 lead England 332/2 (Ben Duckett 94, Zak Crawley 84, Ollie Pope 70*, Joe Root 63*; Ravindra Jadeja 1-59) by 26 runs.