Published on 11:09 AM, February 17, 2024

Siraj takes four as England bowled out for 319

India's Mohammed Siraj celebrates after the dismissal England's Rehan Ahmed of during the third day of the third Test between India and England at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot on February 17, 2024. Photo: AFP

Fast bowler Mohammed Siraj took four wickets as India bowled out England for 319, with the hosts leading by 126 runs on day three of the third Test on Saturday.

Ben Duckett hit 153 and skipper Ben Stokes made 41 in his 100th Test but England lost wickets at regular intervals and their innings ended in the second session in Rajkot.

Earlier, the tourists reached 290-5 at lunch in Rajkot and still trailed India by 155 with skipper Stokes, on 39, and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, on six, unbeaten.

England resumed on 207-2 in reply to India's 445 but lost two wickets in the space of six deliveries inside the first 30 minutes.

Jasprit Bumrah struck in the fifth over of the day when Joe Root attempted a reverse scoop and Yashasvi Jaiswal caught it at second slip.

Kuldeep got Jonny Bairstow trapped lbw for a duck with his left-arm wrist spin and the batsman burned a review for England as replays suggested the ball would have hit middle.

The left-handed Duckett got to 150 but his tame end came when he chased a wide delivery from Kuldeep to give away a catch to the cover fielder.

Duckett smashed 23 fours and two sixes in his 151-ball knock, which punished the Indian bowlers on day two after Ashwin got the other opener Zak Crawley for his 500th wicket.

Ashwin left the Test midway due to a family emergency hours later, and Devdutt Padikkal came in as substitute fielder.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India announced Ashwin's withdrawal late Friday with vice-president Rajeev Shukla saying he had rushed to Chennai "to be with his mother".

The five-match series is level at 1-1 after England won the opener and India bounced back in the second match.