Mohali (India) (AFP) – India tightened the noose around England after all rounder Ravindra Jadeja ended Joe Root’s steely resistance on the fourth day of the third Test in Mohali on Tuesday.
England took lunch at 156 for seven, a lead of just 22, with Haseeb Hameed (13) and Chris Woakes (1) at the crease after resuming the day on 78 for 4.
Top-ranked India lead the series 1-0 after the first Test ended in a draw.
Root batted with purpose to register his 25th Test fifty but his gritty knock came to end just 10 minutes before the break when Jadeja dismissed him for 78.
Root, who opened the innings in place of an injured Hameed, added 42 runs to his overnight 36, hitting six boundaries during his 179-ball stay at the crease.
Left-arm spinner Jadeja struck in the second over of the day to trap nightwatchman Gareth Batty lbw for nought.
Jos Buttler (18) hung on for while with Root but the partnership proved short-lived.
Off-spinner Jayant Yadav had Buttler, who had struck one six earlier, caught at deep midwicket by Jadeja as he tried to counter-attack and clear the boundary a second time.
Teenager Hameed, 19, who is batting with an injured finger on his left hand, came out to bat at number eight.
The hosts had secured a 134-run lead on Monday after posting 417 in their first innings in response to England’s 283.
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