Bumrah fifer on return, Rahul's unbeaten fifty keeps India steady after Root ton at Lord's
London, Jul 11 (PTI): Jasprit Bumrah’s five-wicket haul and Joe Root’s sublime century set up an absorbing contest before KL Rahul's composed unbeaten 53 guided India to 145 for three at stumps on day two of the third Test against England at Lord’s on Friday.
At stumps, India trailed by 242 runs with Rahul and Rishabh Pant (19 batting) at the crease.
Bumrah (5/74) dismantled England’s middle and lower order to claim his second successive five-wicket haul and 15th overall, as the hosts were bowled out for 387 after resuming the day on 251/4.
Root anchored the innings with a composed 104 off 199 balls -- his 37th Test century -- while No 9 Brydon Carse (56) and keeper-batter Jamie Smith (51) staged a crucial lower-order fightback as the last three England partnership was worth 84 runs.
In reply, India started brightly but lost Yashasvi Jaiswal (13) early with Jofra Archer’s dismissing him in the third ball of his Test comeback after nearly four years.
Rahul held firm with a patient unbeaten 53 (113 balls) adding 61 runs with Karun Nair, who made 40 before falling to a spectacular diving catch by Root at slip -- his record 211th in Tests, surpassing Rahul Dravid’s 210 for the most catches by a fielder in men’s Tests.
Captain Shubman Gill (16) fell just two runs short of overtaking Dravid’s record for most runs by an India batter (602) in a Test series in England.
A defensive push off Chris Woakes found the edge, with Smith standing close taking a sharp catch behind the stumps in a key moment of the match.
The five-match series is tied one-all after India bounced back to win the second Test at Edgbaston by 336 runs.
Brief Scores:
England 1st Innings: 387 (Root 104, Carse 56, Smith 51; Bumrah 5/74).
India 1st Innings: 145/3 in 43 overs (KL Rahul 53 batting, Karun Nair 40).
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TN polls: Vijay announces Rs 2,500 monthly assistance, 8 gm gold for women
Chennai (PTI): TVK chief Vijay on Thursday unveiled sweeping assurances in the party manifesto ahead of the April 23 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu that included Rs 2,500 monthly assistance for women below 60 years, 8 gm gold for marriage and six free cooking gas cylinders a year, per family.
The actor-turned-politician also assured a quality silk saree in addition to gold for indigent brides and interest-free loans up to Rs 5 lakh for women-run SHGs. He assured corruption-free good governance if voted to power in his maiden electoral fight.
The manifesto also laid importance on education. To prevent school dropouts, mothers or guardians of children studying in government and state-aided schools will receive Rs 15,000 annually.
Vijay promised 100 special residential schools named after iconic leader K Kamaraj, credited with revolutionising education in the state, and higher education loans of up to Rs 20 lakh. The TVK founder also assured AI Ministry, AI University and AI City.
The manifesto placed a strong emphasis on agrarian welfare, too.
The party promised a full waiver of agricultural cooperative crop loans for farmers owning less than five acres of land, while those holding more than five acres will receive a 50 per cent waiver. Additionally, the party promised a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of Rs 3,500 per quintal for paddy and Rs 4,500 per tonne for sugarcane.
Addressing youth unemployment, Vijay pledged to create five lakh new government jobs and offer as many stipendiary internships. Unemployed graduates will be provided a monthly aid of up to Rs 4,000. For government employees, the party assured consideration of the Old Pension Scheme and the regularisation of contract workers, including nurses.
On the health front, he promised a drug-free Tamil Nadu. Vijay also committed to modernising hospitals, providing free annual health checkups, and introducing a Rs 25 lakh family health insurance scheme.
The manifesto also included a Rs 3,000 monthly pension for the elderly and the differently-abled, 200 units of free power, patta (land deed) regularisation, and 100 per cent piped drinking water supply for all households.
Some of the policy intereventions promised by TVK include a legal guarantee to provide essential government services like community certificates, and land pattas, within a strictly specified timeframe.
Vijay also promised doorstep delivery of governance by implementing a system to deliver services, such as ration supplies, directly to the people. He also assured that ease of doing business will be paramount to his government and promised a strict guarantee that business licences will be issued within 21 days.
Elections to 234 Assembly seats in Tamil Nadu will be held on April 23 and outcome known on May 4. Vijay is facing his maiden electoral battle, billing it as a direct fight between the ruling DMK and his TVK.
