RAJKOT, India, Feb 16, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Opener Ben Duckett smashed a century
to lead England's attacking reply of 207-2 on Friday after Indian spinner
Ravichandran Ashwin reached 500 Test wickets in the third match of the
series.

The left-handed Duckett reached his third Test hundred in 88 balls as England
reached 207-2 to cut their deficit after they bowled out India for 445 on day
two in Rajkot.

Duckett, on 133, and Joe Root, on nine, were batting at close of play. The
tourists still trail India by 238 runs.

Duckett came out roaring and, despite a hostile opening spell by the Indian
quicks, hit regular boundaries in his 80-ball opening stand of 84 with Zak
Crawley.

Ashwin took down Crawley after tea for his 500th Test wicket, becoming only
the ninth international bowler and second Indian after Anil Kumble (619) to
reach the milestone.

Crawley top-edged a delivery going down the leg side to be caught at fine leg
as Indian players hugged Ashwin, who waved to the applauding crowd.

But Duckett kept up the charge and, with Ollie Pope at the other end, raced
to his ton with a boundary off Mohammed Siraj, who sent back Pope lbw to end
a 93-run stand.

The tourists began at five for no loss after India were penalised five runs
for Ashwin running on the pitch, earning a reprimand from on-field umpire
Joel Wilson.

Ashwin (37) and debutant Dhruv Jurel (46) put on a stubborn eighth-wicket
stand of 77 before England wrapped up the Indian innings in the second
session.

Both men batted with patience and occasional boundaries to tackle a
persistent England attack which was rotated by skipper Ben Stokes in his
100th Test.

Rehan Ahmed sent back Ashwin with his leg-spin in the afternoon and then got
Jurel caught behind on a delivery that pitched and turned sharply.

Number 10 Bumrah hit a breezy 26 to frustrate England before fast bowler Mark
Wood got him lbw to finish with 4-114 after his three strikes on day one.

Fast bowler James Anderson struck first to get nightwatchman Kuldeep Yadav
caught behind for four. Anderson moved to 696 Test wickets over 185 matches
since his 2003 debut.

Root had overnight centurion Ravindra Jadeja caught and bowled on 112 as the
hosts lost two wickets in the first five overs of the day.

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