11.25am: India's target is 231 to win. What does your Internal WinViz (aka. the gut) say? It would be a record pursuit on this ground - but the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium has only hosted a handful of Tests. More pertinently, there have only been five higher successful fourth-innings chases in India, most recently in Bengaluru 12 years ago. England, though, have a hugely inexperienced attack and their senior spinner is carrying an injury. But they will nevertheless take heart from a fine fightback with the bat. Pope was central to it all, crafting his first century in India and helping the last four wickets to add more than 100 runs this morning. The players are taking lunch, Deiva will be back with you for the start of the second session. And before you go looking for scran, you'd better put your head in at the Gabba where Shamar Joseph's six-for has put West Indies on the brink of one of the all-time shocks
OJ Pope b Bumrah 196 (373m 278b 21x4 0x6) SR: 70.50
Rohit brings back Jasprit Bumrah to try and get this done
END OF OVER:102 | 1 Run 1 Wkt | ENG: 420/9
- Ollie Pope196 (277b)
- Ravindra Jadeja34-1-131-2
- Ravichandran Ashwin29-4-126-3
In comes Jack Leach. He's had his knee strapped up and we're not yet sure if he'll be able to bowl. But can he help get Pope through to a well-deserved double?
MA Wood c †Bharat b Jadeja 0 (7m 7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00
Slip and gully
Ravindra Jadeja replaces Siraj
"For the 1st time since the 16th century, England is being led by a Pope!" Very good, Jimmy
END OF OVER:101 | (wicket maiden) | ENG: 419/8
- Mark Wood0 (5b)
- Ollie Pope195 (273b)
- Ravichandran Ashwin29-4-126-3
- Axar Patel16-2-74-1
"How far is Ashwin Anna from his 500th?" Four away, Rajat. He'll have to wait until Vizag
Mark Wood is out at No. 10. Slip and short leg
TW Hartley b Ashwin 34 (71m 52b 4x4 0x6) SR: 65.38
My colleague Sampath has this super stat on Pope's knock:
Highest first-innings deficit erased by an individual batter in Tests Batter Match Start runs deficit VVS Laxman Ind v Aus 2001-03-11 281 274 Brendon McCullum NZ v Ind 2014-02-14 302 246 Dennis Amiss Eng v WI 1974-02-16 262 230 Andy Flower Zim v Ind 2000-11-25 232 227 Alastair Cook Eng v Aus 2010-11-25 235 221 Gary Kirsten SA v Eng 1999-12-26 275 210 Ollie Pope Eng v Ind 25-01-2024 191* 190
END OF OVER:100 | 6 Runs | ENG: 419/7
- Tom Hartley34 (51b)
- Ollie Pope195 (273b)
- Axar Patel16-2-74-1
- Mohammed Siraj7-1-22-0
Akshat Jain: "Is there anything Rohit Sharma could have done tactically?! It seems Pope has been scoring runs as per his will." Well, he's seen his fielders drop Pope twice, so might protest innocence
Some of you have been asking where Axar Patel is, too... well, he's got the ball in hand now
"Can somebody tell me why Bumrah is not bowling?" He's already had a spell with the old ball this morning, Deb. Every chance he gets another burst before lunch
