CHENNAI (India): England spinner Dom Bess claimed four wickets including India captain Virat Kohli’s prized scalp as the hosts struggle to avoid follow-on on day three of the opening Test on Sunday.
India reached 257 for six at stumps in response to England’s 578.
Rishabh Pant struck a blazing 91 while Chetaswar Pujara scored a gritty 73, but those weren’t enough to stem the rot in the batting.
“It was (special) and more for the fact of what my process was,” said Bess. “Of course I was looking to get him out but it wasn’t about bowling that magic ball, it was about smashing in 10-15 balls in a good area, then something will happen.”
Washington Sundar, on 33, and Ravichandran Ashwin, on eight, were batting with an unbroken stand of 32.
India need another 122 to avoid follow-on
Fast bowler Jofra Archer removed openers Rohit Sharma and Shubhman Gill in the morning session and Bess soon took over with his off spin to get key wickets including skipper Virat Kohli for 11.
“It’s more about the collective, we’ve taken six today and it’s set up the game nicely,” added Bess, who returned figures of 4-55.
“We’ve seen it starting to spin and that’s only going to get more. We’re pretty close to the new ball, we’re in a great seat at the moment.”
Pant smashed his fourth Test fifty in 40 balls to counter the England bowling but became Bess’ fourth victim after he miscued a lofted hit to get caught by Jack Leach at deep cover.
The wicketkeeper-batsman hit nine fours and five sixes, which came against Leach’s left-arm spin, in his 88-ball blitz.
Pant, who was one of India’s heroes in their Test win in Australia, helped India recover from 73 for four with a 119-run stand with Cheteshwar Pujara, who made 73.
Pujara was caught at short mid-wicket with the ball coming off a rebound from the shoulder of the fielder ducking at short leg.
