Ollie Pope sweeps to epic hundred, leads England fightback in 1st Test against India

It was a crucial breakthrough for the hosts, feeling the pressure with every run England added to their total. Riding on Pope’s sensational unbeaten 148, England reached 316/6 at stumps to remarkably still be in the game after India took a first innings lead of 190. England are 126 runs ahead and anything close to 175 could be a testing chase.

Outplayed on the first two days, the visitors needed an inspirational effort to lift their spirits. Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett came out positive in the second innings, but the day's headline act was by Pope.

His hundred will go down as among the best in India by an overseas batter. It is being compared to Alastair Cook's epic 176 in the second innings of the first Test of the 2012 series at Ahmedabad.