India make steady progress despite gritty Root innings

MOHALI, India (AP) Joe Root scored a gritty half-century but could not prevent a further slide by England in its second innings, with the tourists reaching 156-7 at lunch on day four of the third test against India in Mohali.

England leads by only 22 runs with three wickets remaining.

At the break, Haseeb Hameed was unbeaten on 13 not out, while Chris Woakes was batting on 1 not out.

Resuming from the overnight 78-4, England added only four runs before losing Gareth Batty lbw to Ravindra Jadeja (2-39).

Root seemed intent on batting for time while Jos Buttler at the other end tried to counter-attack.

They took England past 100 before Buttler (18) holed out to long on off Jayant Yadav (2-21).

After Buttler's fall, injured opener Hameed finally came out to bat at no.8 and played a brave innings, facing 88 deliveries, and putting on 45 runs for the seventh wicket with Root.

Ravichandran Ashwin (3-41) was introduced into the attack only after the hour mark had passed in the session.

He would have struck immediately, inducing a thick edge off Hameed (6 not out) in the 58th over, but for keeper Parthiv Patel's drop.

Just before lunch, India got the big wicket. Jadeja ended Root's resistance, caught at slip for 78 by Ajinkya Rahane who took a superb one-handed catch to his left.

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