December 10, 2016

Kohli ton puts India in commanding position - India v England, 4th Test, Mumbai, 3rd day

Play 01:36

Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 241-ball 147 - his 15th ton in Tests - to hand India a 51 run first-innings lead against England in the fourth Test in Mumbai on Saturday.

Kohli became the first Indian captain in 35 years to make 500 runs or more in a series. England's bowlers - and spinners n particular - tested India on the third day as the Wankhede surface aided the spinning ball.

Cheteshwar Pujara's departure in the first over of play was a cause for concern given that the hosts were still 254 runs shy of England's first-innings total of 400. Kohli stepped into the fore and confidently negotiated 241 balls to help India end the day with a 51-run lead.

He dominated from the onset and guided Jake Ball to the third man boundary twice in the fourth over after the breakthrough. India hustled from 150 to 200 in just 66 balls - after the wicket had fallen. Kohli and Vijay added a 116-run stand for the second wicket, with the opener scoring his second ton of the series and eighth in all. At lunch, India stood at 247 for 2.

The post-lunch session was more fruitful for England as they struck and dismissed Vijay three overs after the break. India's middle order struggled against the quick turn and steep bounce. The spinners claimed four wickets for 45 runs in the middle session. India, at that point, was 307 for 6 and still 93 runs behind.

Kohli found an able partner in Jayant Yadav and the duo added an unbeaten 87-run stand for the eighth wicket to erase the deficit. Kohli clubbed 17 fours in his match-defining innings. He confidently negotiated England's spin threat by moving back and across to Moeen Ali and scoring freely against Adil Rashid's legbreaks. He scored 95 runs against the spinners and only three came from false shots. At stumps, India stood at 451 for 7. Kohli is the second India captain, after Sunil Gavaskar, to score 500 or more runs in a Test series.

"We had some momentum with us, the way Virat started was fantastic and the way he ended was even more amazing. The pitch has a lot of assistance for the spinners, hopefully our bowlers can get more. Always great to bat with Pujara and Virat," Vijay said.

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