India vs England, 1st Test, Day 3: As it happened...

After Ben Stokes took England to a 537-run total in first innings, Indian openers Gautam Gambhir and Murali Vijay got hosts off to a good start.

Rajkot: Day 3 of the first Test match between India and England being played at Played at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.

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INDIA 1ST INNINGS

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OVER 109 | SCORE 319/4 (Kohli 26)

Worst possible ending for India to lose the settled batsman Murali Vijay and then night watchman Amit Mishra right before stumps. It will be tricky for Ajinkya Rahane to face Engalnd bowlers on Day 4 morning session right from scratch. 

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OVER 105 | SCORE 313/2 (Vijay 124, Kohli 20)

300 up for India and they have achieved it at a decent run-rate. Time to hold on the last phase of the game and take this partnership into 4th day.

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OVER 100 | SCORE 292/2 (Vijay 117, Kohli 8)

100 overs up and India are on course of reaching the 300-run mark. How long will the Vijay-Kohli partnership last?

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OVER 95 | SCORE 281/2 (Vijay 112, Kohli 6)

Kohli replaces Pujara on field as Vijay continues his battle since yesterday. India should be looking to take this partnership into Day 4.

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OVER 92 | SCORE 277/2 (Vijay 110, Kohli 0)

Cheteshwar Pujara goes off to a resounding reception from crowd. His terrific knock comes to an end as Ben Stokes gives England the much needed success.

CA Pujara c Cook b Stokes 124 (206b)

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OVER 90 | SCORE 271/1 (Vijay 105, Pujara 123)

Partnership now 203 runs. Just terrific from Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujar. Gautam Gambhir will be ruing to let his opportunity slip away.

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OVER 90 | SCORE 271/1 (Vijay 105, Pujara 123)

Partnership now 203 runs. Just terrific from Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujar. Gautam Gambhir will be ruing to let his opportunity slip away.

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OVER 85 | SCORE 253/1 (Vijay 103, Pujara 107)

What a proud moment for India to see Viijay and Pujara giving England a solid reply with two centuries. The ton becomes extra special for the latter as it comes on his home ground.

.@mvj888 celebrates as he brings up his 7th Test ton @Paytm Test Cricket #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/NeTysEAMtD — BCCI (@BCCI) November 11, 2016

Rajkot celebrates as @cheteshwar1 hits his 9th Test Century @Paytm Test Cricket #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/5Bs3oZAOEF — BCCI (@BCCI) November 11, 2016

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OVER 79 | SCORE 228/1 (Vijay 86, Pujara 99)

66 runs and 39 overs in the session as Pujara departs for TEA on 99. The local boy would have to wait for his century a little longer.

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OVER 71 | SCORE 210/1 (Vijay 80, Pujara 86)

DRS to the rescue, Pujara survives and LBW, which was given out by the on-field umpire but the review showed ball going over the stumps. Thank you BCCI!

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OVER 65 | SCORE 195/1 (Vijay 69, Pujara 83)

Despite coming at one-down, Pujara looks on course to claim his century before Murali Vijay, who was handed a lifeline at 66 after being dropped on Rashid's bowling.

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OVER 57 | SCORE 178/1 (Vijay 63, Pujara 72)

Partnership worth more than 100 runs for Vijay and Pujara. India look settled chasing England's first innings total. Will both Vijay and Pujara score centuries today?

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OVER 50 | SCORE 133/1 (Vijay 57, Pujara 62)

It's LUNCH in Rajkot. Thrilling stuff from Indian duo, 50 up for both Vijay and Pujara as New Zealand bowlers are short of ideas. Session certainly goes India's way.

Take a look at the session summary at Lunch on Day 3, India are 162/1. Follow the game here - https://t.co/kH0WTT1ykW #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/I7RUH93sav — BCCI (@BCCI) November 11, 2016

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OVER 45 | SCORE 133/1 (Vijay 45, Pujara 45)

Pujara batting almost like as if it is an ODI match, dealing in boundaries on regular intervals as Vijay continues to rotate strike. Strike rate of 166 for Pujara on front foot.

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OVER 40 | SCORE 113/1 (Vijay 40, Pujara 30)

Partnership between Pujara and Vijay now of 44 runs. Zafar Ansari and Chris Woakes striving for success from the other end but the Indian duo continue to hold on.

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OVER 35 | SCORE 106/1 (Vijay 37, Pujara 26)

Gambhir's departure the only hurdle, as Vijay, Pujara look fluent facing England bowlers. Remains to be seen if India holds on to this performance and doesn't lose another wicket in the session.

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OVER 30 | SCORE 95/1 (Vijay 28, Pujara 24)

Pujara makes a hugely impressive start to his innings, 24 already under his belt having just faced 22 balls. His fluency reminds us of his double hundred against England in 2012.

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OVER 25 | SCORE 73/1 (Vijay 25, Pujara 5)

First loss for India and that too so early in the match. Stuart Broad removes Gautam Gambhir LBW. Early morning session was going to be a tough one for India and that is what happened.

G Gambhir lbw b Broad 29 (72b)

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In reply to England's formidable total of 537 runs in first innings, Gautam Gambhir and Murali Vijay started off proceedings on a positive note for the hosts.

Day 2 belonged to England after Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes slammed two more centuries post Joe Root's 11th Test ton on the opening day. In reply, the opening pair of Gambhir and Vijay had stitched unbeaten 63-run stand at stumps.

England's first innings total was their third-highest ever in this country, showing their batsmen were in total control against Indian spinners especially Ravichandran Ashwin, who conceded 167 runs in 46 overs taking only two wickets.

Amit Mishra fared no better, having being hit for 98 runs in 23.3 overs.

India still need 275 more runs to avoid following on, on a track showing increasing signs of wear and tear after its easy-paced nature on day one yesterday.

The hosts also trailed the visitors by a massive 474 runs with all ten wickets in hand going into day three tomorrow. Both faced testing spells of fast bowling and probing spin bowling to remain unbeaten for carrying on the daunting task faced by the home team.

Vijay had faced 70 balls, striking four fours - three of which came in one over off Stuart Broad.

Gambhir, playing his second Test on the trot after his recall from hibernation, struck four fours in his 68-ball knock as they batted out the shortened last session of play.

Earlier, New Zealand-born England all rounder Ben Stokes became the third century maker in the visitors? first innings after Joe Root yesterday and Moeen Ali today morning.

The tourists, in particular Stokes who made an attacking 128 which was the innings highest score, batted right down the order to post the massive total before being all out to end the extended session two.