London, Aug 2 (PTI): Opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Akash Deep hit half-centuries as India fought back to score 189 for 3 in the second innings at lunch on day three of the fifth and final Test at The Oval on Saturday.
Overnight batter Jaiswal (85 not out off 106 balls) was approaching his sixth Test century, while Akash Deep hit 66 off 94 balls -- his maiden Test half-ton -- as the duo shared a 107-run partnership for the third wicket to give the visitors an overall lead of 166 runs against Ollie Pope's England.
Akash Deep was dismissed before lunch with pacer Jamie Overton taking his wicket.
India had scored 224 in the first innings, which was followed by England's 247 giving England a narrow 23-run advantage going into the second innings.
Jaiswal's effort comes after a dismal showing in the first inning where he scored two runs.
India had suffered two blows in the final session on day two, losing opener KL Rahul and Sai Sudharsan for 7 and 11 runs respectively.
England are currently leading the series 2-1.
Brief scores:
India 224 and 189 for 3 in 44 overs (Yashasvi Jaiswal 85 not out, Akash Deep 66)
England 1st Innings 247.
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Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has ruled out any relaxation of the minimum age limit for admission to Class 1 beginning with the academic year 2026-27. Following the refusal, a group of parents continues to press for leniency.
Parents of children who fall under the age of six by a small margin on the cut-off date have met Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar and senior officials from the Department of School Education and Literacy to request an exemption. School Education and Literacy Minister Madhu Bangarappa said that the government will not change its decision, as reported by Deccan Herald.
According to the minister, children must be six years old by June 1 to be eligible for admission to Class 1. beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. He noted that the previous relaxation was a one-time measure that was clearly confined to the 2025-26 academic year.
“If such requests are entertained every year, it will never end. While granting relaxation last year, it was explicitly stated that it applied only to one academic year. From 2026-27 onwards, the rule will be strictly implemented,” Bangarappa was quoted by DH.
Parents argue that the rigid cut-off is affecting children who are short by a few days. One parent was quoted by DH as saying that his daughter would be 12 days short of completing six years on June 1. Such parents would be forced to repeat a year despite being academically ready. Others pointed out that children promoted from LKG to UKG during the 2025-26 academic year are now facing uncertainty over their transition to Class 1.
Few parents also recalled that earlier, admissions were allowed for children aged between five years and 10 months and six years. Parents saw it as a more practical approach, with children born in November and December being disproportionately affected.
The issue of age criterion goes back to a government order issued in July 2022. The order mandated six years as the minimum age for Class 1 admission. Parents of children already enrolled in pre-primary classes, protested against the order and the state deferred implementation, announcing that the rule would come into force from the 2025-26 academic year.
After renewed pressure, the government granted a one-year relaxation for 2025-26, citing the large number of students affected and in consultation with the State Education Policy Commission. While announcing the exemption, the minister had stated that no further concessions would be allowed.
