Ollie Pope's unbeaten century gives England healthy lead over India on Day 3 in Hyderabad Test

Ollie Pope smashed an unbeaten hundred on Day 3 to keep England alive in the first Test match against India at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Saturday. India managed to add only 15 runs to their first innings total in the first session and took a dominant 190-run lead.

But England kept their cool despite some early setbacks and posted a total of 316/6 until umpires called stumps on Saturday. England have taken a defining 126-run lead with Ollie Pope still at the crease batting on 148* off 208 balls.

Coming back to India's first innings, Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel managed to add only 15 runs for the eighth wicket. India lost Jasprit Bumrah on a duck to Joe Root and Rehan Ahmed finished India's innings on 436 with Axar's wicket. Root emerged as the most successful bowler for the visiting side with 4/79 while debutant Tom Hartley and youngster Rehan Ahmed picked two each.

Trailing 190, England kicked off their second innings with openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett adding quick 45 runs. Chasing a 500 Test wickets milestone, Ashwin gave India a breakthrough with Crawley's wicket in the 10th over.

Pope and Duckett kept England's strong start by producing 68 runs for the second wicket with the latter scoring crucial 47 off just 52 balls. Jasprit Bumrah put India in the driving seat by removing Duckett and the next batter Joe Root in his consecutive overs.

Bumrah's double strike and Ashwin-Jadeja kept India ahead going into the Tea break with England still trailing by 18 runs and five wickets down. But Pope and Ben Foakes' defining 112-run partnership for the sixth wicket balanced the game for the Three Lions. Axar bowled out Foakes on 34 runs to give India something to cheer in the third session but Pope smashed an unbeaten 148 off 208 to help England post 316/6 in 77 overs.