Duckett Smashes 133 As England Chase India. Ashwin Takes 500th Test Wicket – News18

RAJKOT, India: England opener Ben Duckett blasted an undefeated 133 as they chased India’s 445 on day two Friday of the third cricket test.

India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin took his 500th test wicket and hours later withdrew from the match due to an undisclosed family emergency.

That left India with 10 men for the next three days and reliance on remaining spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav to slow down and stop England.

England was 207-2 at stumps, trailing India by 238 runs.

Duckett needed only 88 balls for his third test century, all scored after tea. His 118-delivery innings so far included two sixes and 21 fours. His was the quickest hundred by an England batter against India, beating Graham Gooch’s 95-ball century in 1990. Duckett also became the first visiting batter to score 100-plus runs within a test session on Indian soil.

England scored at an average of almost six runs an over, compared to 3.40 by India.

“England are showing a lot of intent, and playing like they would in an ODI or T20 game,” Ashwin said. “The game is in the balance and they are putting us under pressure.”

Joe Root was 9 not out.

Zak Crawley scored 15 of the opening stand of 89 when he was caught at fine leg for Ashwin’s milestone wicket. Ashwin became the ninth man to 500 in test history.

“It has been a long journey, and I would like to dedicate this feat to my father,” Ashwin said. “He has been with me through thick and thin, probably had a heart attack every time he has watched me play.”

Ollie Pope (39) was the other batter out, trapped by Mohammed Siraj.

Earlier, India resumed its first innings on 326-5 and lost Yadav in the fourth over of the morning, caught behind off James Anderson for 4.

The bigger blow came six balls later — century-maker Jadeja offered a simple return catch to Root. Jadeja was out for 112, adding only two more runs to his total. Overall, he faced 225 deliveries and hit nine fours as well as a six in his second test hundred at his home ground.

After the drinks break, Ashwin was penalized by umpire Joel Wilson for running onto the danger area of the pitch, and England was awarded five penalty runs. That meant it started its first innings from 5-0.

India reached lunch at 388-7 thanks to a 57-run partnership between Ashwin and debutant Dhruv Jurel for the eighth wicket. Post lunch, Jurel survived two dropped catches as he made his way to 46. His was the third highest score for an India keeper-batter on test debut.

Jurel was eventually caught behind off Rehan Ahmed, who finished with 2-85.

Overall, Ashwin and Jurel combined for 77 runs.

Jasprit Bumrah scored 26 and frustrated the visitors with a final 30-run partnership with Siraj.

India’s innings ended just before tea when Mark Wood dismissed Bumrah lbw to finish with 4-114.

The five-match series is level at 1-1.

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AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – Associated Press)