England v India: Jonny Bairstow ton fails to halt tourists

Bairstow scored a century on the third day of the fifth Test against India at Edgbaston.

Bairstow's 106, his third hundred in as many Tests and his fifth this year, gave the home side a total of 284 from their overnight 84-5.

Hopes of a fightback were raised when India were reduced to 75-3.

India, though, were not out of it by the end of the day.

Pujara, who could have been out on 23, is 50 not out, while Pant is not out.

England's series win over New Zealand last month, when they successfully chased targets in excess of 250, will give them confidence.

Since 2007, India have not won in England, but they are hoping to change that.

• Reaction to day three at Edgbaston
• Watch Today at the Test

Sunday scrap for supremacy at Edgbaston

England tried to claw their way back as India tried to keep them out of the game.

Bairstow's century made all the more impressive for the intensity of his morning battle with India pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.

England scored 48 runs in five overs in the middle of the game.

Bairstow's departure was the signal for England to lose their last four wickets for 43 runs, but the fight was picked up by the bowlers, who gave nothing away.

It is a huge ask for England to win this match, especially on a pitch that is starting to show some signs of wear and tear.

England will insist that it is possible and will not consider the option of a draw, meaning a thrilling final two days are in store.

Bairstow does it again

Bairstow's hundred is better than his two match-winning efforts against New Zealand due to the quality of India's bowling.

Bairstow had managed only 13 runs from the first 63 balls he faced, but exploded into life after an exchange of words with the Indian captain, smashing 87 off his next 56 to reach his 11th Test ton.

His strokeplay was amazing. Full balls were hit over mid-off, short balls were pulled and stepped, and one clip over mid-wicket for six was outrageous.

Though England's sixth-century pair added 66, Stokes struggled to find his rhythm. He survived a simple skier to Thakur at cover and a low chance to Bumrah at mid-off before the same man took a screamer to send the captain on his way for 25.

Bairstow went to three figures with a punch off Thakur to the point fence, and ran all the way to the boundary to celebrate.

He was the first to fall when he slashed Shami to first slip, leaving Mohammed Siraj to take three of the last four.

India inch on

James Anderson had Shubman Gill caught at second slip from the third ball of the day.

Matthew Potts probing the off-stump channel and finding the edge of Pujara's bat, but the ball dropped beneath the fingertips of Billings.

When Hanuma Vihari's loose drive at Stuart Broad ended in the hands of Bairstow at third slip, it brought the arrival of Kohli for perhaps his final battle with Anderson.

The former captain looked ominous for his 20, but after Stokes found extra bounce to take Kohli's glove, Joe Root's lightning reflexes grabbed a rebound when the first chance was missed.

England had a chance to get back into the game after India's lead was 207, but were undone by the obdurate Pujara and in-form Pant.

The closest England came for the rest of the day was a borderline review when Pujara was struck on the pad.

'It's looking very good for India' - reaction

Bairstow spoke to thebbc and said he was pleased. I'm happy in myself. I enjoy playing cricket. Being a part of the team is great.

We will be looking for a chase if we can nip a few bats out early tomorrow, as Ben said at the toss.

The odd ball has done a bit out there, so the England batters will know it's going to get tougher, especially against India's magnificent seamers."

Stokes has clearly been given a licence, but it has bordered on being reckless and he is so much better than that.

He is good at giving himself time to get in and then accelerate.