Chennai: India opener Lokesh Rahul (199, 311b, 16×4, 3×6) fell agonisingly short of his maiden test double century as he helped his team to 391 for four in a robust reply to England’s first innings total of 477 in the fifth and final Test here Sunday.
The elegant right-hander made 199 before throwing his wicket away and squatting at the crease, head-in-hands, after the anti-climactic end to a stellar knock.
India, who have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series, finished day three at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, on course for a first-innings lead. Karun Nair (71 batting, 136b, 6×4) was batting at stumps with Murali Vijay (17 batting, 31b, 3×4), who dropped down the order following a shoulder injury, at the other end.
Rahul featured in century-plus stands with stop-gap opener Parthiv Patel (71, 112b, 7×4) and number five Nair to provide the bedrock of India’s reply.
Resuming on 60 for no loss, the hosts got off to a solid start with their make-shift opening pair of Rahul and Patel adding 152 runs. Rahul was particularly harsh on debutant Liam Dawson, twice stepping out against the left-arm spinner to hit him for sixes in the morning session.
Patel played his career-best knock before falling to Moeen Ali (1/96), having impressed as he and Rahul combined to forge India’s first century-plus opening stand in 32 innings.
Drafted into the side after the second Test to replace the injured Wriddhiman Saha, Patel kept wicket for over 157 overs and then returned to partner Rahul after regular opener Vijay sustained the injury.
England claimed two big wickets after lunch with Cheteshwar Pujara (16, 29b, 3×4) edging Ben Stokes and Stuart Broad dismissing the in-form Virat Kohli (15, 29b, 1×4) with a slow leg-cutter which the India captain drove straight to short cover. It was the first time in the series that the Indian skipper was dismissed for a sub-40 score.
Rahul hit Adil Rashid (1/76) for his third six to race to 193 and collected his 16th boundary off the same leg-spinner to reach 199.
Rashid followed it with a tossed up innocuous delivery way outside the off-stump and Rahul offered a reckless shot, lobbing the ball to Jos Buttler at cover point.
Rahul succumbs to double ton pressure
It was the pressure of trying to reach a coveted milestone that became his undoing but KL Rahul is happy for the fact that it is not everyday that one gets to score 199 in a Test match.
“It was a good day till I got out. I was looking to play positively, everything was going my way. I was hitting the ball off the middle and the chances that I took came off. Everything was looking good but just unfortunate that the pressure of getting a double hundred got to me,” Rahul said at the post-day press conference.
“I am very happy at the end of the day. 199 runs is not easy to get but yeah missing out on a double hundred obviously hurts. But I will go back home happy that I got a 199 crucial runs for my team,” the talented opener added.
Asked about his current state of mind, Rahul admitted that there is some amount of sadness. “Obviously, right now it is me missing out on the 200 took some time to sink in. I was really disappointed. 200 for a batsman is a big landmark and I have never been somebody, who has chased landmarks but getting a 200 will always be a proud moment for a batsman.”
Talking about his strategy on the day, Rahul said, “Look it is very important for us. If we have to make a match out of this, to get a good lead and the wicket is kind of playing really good so far. Our aim was to bat five or six sessions and get as many runs as we can.”
Agencies
