How Did Jaiswal and Akash’s Fifties Worsen England's Situation?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Yashasvi Jaiswal maintains an unbeaten score of 85.
- Akash Deep scores a pivotal 66, marking his first Test half-century.
- India leads England by 166 runs at lunch.
- Partnership between Jaiswal and Akash proves crucial.
- England's bowlers face challenges with dropped catches and missed opportunities.
London, Aug 2 (NationPress) Yashasvi Jaiswal shone brightly with an unbeaten score of 85 while Akash Deep dazzled with an entertaining 66, propelling India to 189/3 in 44 overs, giving them a commanding lead of 166 runs over England at lunch on day three of the fifth Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy Test at The Oval on Saturday.
This session was predominantly dominated by India, with Akash, who was dropped on 21, achieving his first Test half-century, featuring 12 boundaries, before falling to Jamie Overton. By this point, Akash had exceeded expectations for his nightwatchman role, forming a crucial 107-run partnership with Jaiswal.
With Jaiswal and captain Shubman Gill (11 not out) at the crease, and the pitch becoming more favorable, India is eager to expand their lead. The session commenced with Akash quickly getting into rhythm – striking Jacob Bethell for a boundary, followed by another against Gus Atkinson.
The pair each collected boundaries off Josh Tongue, with Akash surviving an lbw appeal and benefiting from a dropped catch by Zak Crawley. Jaiswal then greeted Overton with an upper-cut over the slip cordon for four, while Akash dispatched Atkinson for three effortless boundaries.
Akash then elegantly swept Atkinson through the leg side for a boundary that marked his first Test half-century. As he celebrated with a fist pump and pointed to the Indian crest on his jersey, the team applauded, with head coach Gautam Gambhir showing a rare smile.
England's frustrations mounted as Akash struck two boundaries off Overton and then hit Tongue for another four. However, just before lunch, his fun came to an end as he attempted to play a short ball from Overton on the leg side, leading to a catch at backward point. Gill then showcased his skills with two beautiful strokes just before the break.
Brief scores: India 224 and 189/3 in 44 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 85 not out, Akash Deep 66; Jamie Overton 1-47, Josh Tongue 1-64) lead England 247 in 51.2 overs (Zak Crawley 64; Prasidh Krishna 4-62) by 166 runs.