Ind vs Eng: Kohli, Dhoni take India past 250-run mark against England on Day 3
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Showing admirable restraint and tenacity in the face of adversity, skipper M S Dhoni and Virat Kohli compiled responsible half centuries to keep India on course for the first innings lead, reaching 227 for four at tea on third day of the final Test against England on Saturday.
The fifth wicket pair, who came together last evening when India were tottering at 71 for four, had kept their wickets intact to reach 87 for four at stumps on Friday.
Today also they continued to put up a strong resistance as they fought back superbly with a century partnership to remained unconquered for first two sessions of the day.
At the end of the second session, India, who desperately need to win this match to square the series 2-2, had advanced to 225-plus runs, still 103 behind the visitors modest first innings score of 330.
Kohli was not out on 77 off 234 balls studded with seven fours, while Dhoni, who has faced 186 balls in his 275-minute knock and hit seven fours and a six, was unbeaten on 75.
The duo had added 156 runs for the fifth wicket by tea. The Indian pair, who added just 59 runs in 32 overs in the pre-lunch session when resurrection of the tattered innings was the need of the hour, showed a lot more urgency in the second session.
Post-lunch, when the new ball was taken after 81 overs, Dhoni and Kohli became a bit more aggressive and the latter especially came up with some glorious cover drives bisecting the packed field against Bresnan and Panesar at the VCA Stadium in Jamtha here.
The duo put on 81 runs in 27 overs in the second session, including 45 in 16 overs in the first hour of the post-lunch period.
Kohli, who needed four runs to reach his sixth half century in his 14th Test at lunch, reached the minor landmark with a drive to the extra cover fence off Panesar's bowling.
The 50 came after three hours' of stay at the crease off 171 balls and with the help of just four boundaries as he curtailed his natural instincts for the requirement of the team. Though later he became a bit more aggressive.
It was an apt response to his critics who questioned his commitment after he had thrown away his wicket earlier in the series.
Later Dhoni also completed his half ton with a square cut four off Bresnan off 137 balls, including seven fours, even as the duo grinded the England bowling attack on a slow wicket of low bounce.
The shot of the day came when Kohli drove Bresnan to the fence on the front foot that bisected cover and extra cover fielders.
When Swann came for a new spell, Dhoni carted the off spinner over long on for his first six of the innings before the duo saw the 200 of the innings coming up in the 93rd over and after six hours and 15 minutes.
Bresnan troubled Dhoni before the tea break, by twice rapping the Indian captain on the back thigh with balls that jagged back sharply but they seemed to miss the leg stump and the strong appeals were turned down by umpire Rod Tucker.
The fast bowler also could not bend down fast enough on his follow-through to accept a low return catch from the Indian stumper in between these two lbw appeals. Dhoni was on 72 then.
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Keywords:skipper M S Dhoni , Virat Kohli,VCA Stadium, Jamtha , wicket, Bresnan, Swann, spinner , Indian captain, umpire Rod Tucker, Indian stumper,cricket news,sports news
