Day 3: Siraj’s Six-for Halts England Fightback After Smith-Brook Epic

ND Prashant
05 Jul 2025
01:05

Resuming on 77/3, England collapsed early on the third morning of the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, losing Joe Root for 22 and Ben Stokes for a golden duck in successive deliveries from Mohammed Siraj. In the space of two balls, they slumped to 84/5, staring at a colossal deficit after India’s first-innings 587.

Mohammed Siraj lead the team off the field after claiming 6 wickets. @ BCCI
Mohammed Siraj lead the team off the field after claiming 6 wickets. @ BCCI

But Jamie Smith and Harry Brook produced a defiant counterattack that briefly turned the match. Their astonishing 303-run partnership not only hauled England back into the contest but also momentarily threatened to wipe out India’s advantage.

Brook afterwards said
No, obviously it was good fun being out there with him. He’s a phenomenal player and to put on a 300-run partnership was...yeah, it was good to be out there.

Smith was the more aggressive of the pair, hammering 184 not out off 207 balls, including 21 fours and four sixes—the highest Test score by an England wicketkeeper. Brook supported brilliantly with 158 off 234 deliveries.

Brook added
The way he [Smith] came out of the blocks today and put the pressure back on them was phenomenal. He tried to change the momentum in our favour, and it worked for a long period.
Jamie Smith celebrates his ton with Harry Brook: @ England Cricket
Jamie Smith celebrates his ton with Harry Brook: @ England Cricket

England’s momentum, though, unravelled swiftly once the second new ball was taken. Siraj, who finished with a career-best 6-70, removed Brook with a delivery that seamed back in to hit the off stump, sparking a collapse of 5 for 20.

Siraj said
It’s unbelievable because I was waiting for a long time. I have been bowling well but not getting wickets. I’ve only had four-wicket hauls here, so getting six is very special.

With Jasprit Bumrah absent, Siraj led an inexperienced attack with maturity. “It’s Akash Deep’s third or fourth match, same for Prasidh [Krishna], so I was just focused on staying consistent and building pressure,” he explained.

Earlier, Smith’s strokeplay was dazzling. He dismantled Prasidh Krishna’s short-ball plan in a brutal over that went for 23 runs, flicking, pulling and driving at will. He reached fifty in 43 balls, then raised his century before lunch with a flurry of boundaries off Washington Sundar and Ravindra Jadeja.

Brook’s hundred came in poignant fashion. Driving Prasidh between gully and slip for his 13th four, he marked the milestone by gesturing skyward in tribute to his late grandmother.

After tea, England resumed on 387/5. But once Brook departed, wickets tumbled: Chris Woakes (5), Brydon Carse (0), Josh Tongue (0) and Shoaib Bashir (0) all fell cheaply, leaving Smith stranded on a magnificent unbeaten 184.

India closed the day firmly in control, reaching 64/1 in 13 overs of their second innings to stretch their lead to 244. Though Yashasvi Jaiswal fell for 28, KL Rahul was unbeaten on 28, with Karun Nair on 7.

Brief Scores: India 587 & 64/1 (KL Rahul 28*) England 407 (Smith 184*, Brook 158; Siraj 6-70, Akash Deep 4-88)

India lead by 244 runs.

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