Lokesh Rahul missed out on a double century as India posted 391/4 in their first innings at stumps on the third day of the fifth and final cricket Test against England.

The hosts now trail by 86 runs England’s first innings score of 477.

At the close of the day’s play, Karun Nair was batting on 71 with Murali Vijay (17 batting) at the other end.

Rahul missed out his maiden double-century as he was dismised while on 199.

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Rahul’s fellow opener Parthiv Patel scored 71 to register his sixth half-century in Test cricket.

For England, Stuart Broad, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes and Adil Rashid claimed a wicket each.

Rahul batted brilliantly over 311 balls for his 199, hitting 16 boundaries and three sixes along the way.

But nerves and impatience got the better of him a single run short of his double-century as he went after a wide delivery outside the off-stump. The ball kissed the top edge of the bat and ballooned up for an easy catch for Jos Buttler at cover.

Rahul’s score is the second highest by an Indian opener against England after the Sunil Gavaskar who had piled up 221 at the Oval in 1979.

A total of nine batsmen have been dismissed on 199 in Test cricket. Rahul is the second Indian on that list after Mohammad Azharuddin, who was dismissed on that score against Sri Lanka in Kanpur on December 17, 1986.

Rahul has now notched up four Test centuries since the start of 2015, the most by an Indian opener over that period.

His four centuries have come off 17 innings. Over this period, Murali Vijay has notched up three tons in 26 knocks and Shikhar Dhawan two in 16.

Earlier, resuming the day at 60/0, Rahul and wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel completed their respective half-centuries as the hosts gave a perfect reply to England’s handsome first innings total.

Patel, who has shown excellent form with the bat after returning to the Indian team following a gap of eight years, scored 71 runs before stepping out to Ali only to top-edge a spinning delivery to Jos Buttler at cover.

Patel’s 112-ball stay in the middle contained seven hits to the fence. This was his sixth half-century in Test cricket.

Rahul and Patel made their intentions clear from the very beginning, as the latter drove brilliantly towards mid-on off a delivery from pacer Stuart Broad in only the second over of the day.

Then, it was Rahul who hammered two sixes — both over long-on — in the third and fifth over bowled by left-arm spinner Liam Dawson. Broad too was at the receiving end of the punishment from Rahul and Patel.

As the duo reached their 100-run stand with smooth batting display, the runs came at a steady clip.

Parthiv, who scored his sixth 50 in Test cricket, hit seven boundries during his 71-run knock that ended when the left-hander top-edged a spinning delivery from Moeen Ali to Jos Buttler at cover.

Rahul was unbeaten on 133 runs at tea with Karun Nair on 19 at the other end.

India lost the wickets of Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Virat Kohli cheaply between the lunch and tea breaks.

Pujara edged a Ben Stokes delivery to Alistair Cook in the slips while Kohli’s attempted drive off Stuart Broad found Keaton Jennings at extra cover.

Karun Nair joined Rahul at the crease following Kohli’s departure and the duo proceeded to consolidate India’s position with a 161-run stand.

IANS

India opener K.L. Rahul said he was determined to score big on a batsman-friendly pitch after crafting a superb 199 to guide India to a strong position at stumps on the third day of the fifth Test against England.

Rahul faced 311 deliveries, batted for eight-and-half hours to strike 16 fours and three sixes to guide India to a healthy 391/4 at close of play, in response to England’s first innings score of 477.

But he suffered a cruel heartbreak, getting dismissed for 199, becoming the second Indian after former skipper Mohammad Azharuddin, and ninth overall to depart on the verge of a milestone.

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The 24-year-old was fluent during his knock and was judicious in his shot selection, becoming the second opener after Sunil Gavaskar to score so many runs in a Test innings against England.

Gavaskar holds the distinction of scoring most by an Indian opener (221 in 1979) — the only double-hundred by an Indian opener against England.

Rahul said injuries prevented him from becoming a permanent feature in the team and he was determined to make the most of the opportunities he got in his stop-start career so far.

“I haven’t played a lot in the last couple of months. Going in and out isn’t easy. Spending time in Bombay was good. Once I came here, this pitch was good, and I didn’t want to waste the opportunity,” said Rahul after the day’s action.

“Missed out on the whole New Zealand series. I thought I was in good form. Went back home, worked on my fitness. Played one Ranji game, that was good to get my flow. I was killing myself… I missed out in Wankhede (third Test), the wicket was very good.”

Rahul looked set to complete what would have been a well-deserved double-century. But he was over eager to complete the feat, chasing a wide delivery outside off-stump, and gave a simple catch at point. He was visibly distraught at missing the double ton and walked back slowly to the pavilion after getting out.

“This hundred will be on the top of the list. Now you understand what your coach means when he says one run will be important. I’ll always have to live with this. I played a horrible shot and got out on 199,” the Karnataka batsman said.

“I haven’t seen the videos. Just been standing under the shower. It will take some time to sink in. I thought I would get a double hundred with ease. Just have to come back stronger. I did discuss with my batting coach (on improvements).

“Knowing where my off stump is… I hadn’t played enough games, so didn’t know where my off stump was. Went back and worked on my basics and (batting coach) Sanjay Bangar said if I stayed inside the crease, I would judge the line better,” he added.

IANS

It has been a dream last six months for Kannaur Lokesh Rahul. His 46 ball hundred against West Indies, the joint 2nd fastest T20I ton, has the cricketing world talking about the making a future star. Former Australian captain Michael Clarke, Indian limited overs cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni acknowledge this fact.

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His swashbuckling knock of 110 not out off 51 balls against the Windies in the US makes him only the third Indian to register a century in all three formats of the game.