India Tour of England: India on the back foot on day three

England v India, 2nd Investec Test, Lord’s, 3rd day

A defiant half-century by India opener Murali Vijay kept alive his side’s hopes of setting England a tough fourth-innings chase in a tense second Test at Lord’s on Saturday.

Murali Vijay, a picture of concentration during his innings of 59 off 190 balls, and MS Dhoni (12 off 51 balls) closed out the day at 169 for 4, taking the visitors’ lead to 145.

Earlier Liam Plunkett’s maiden test half-century helped England add 100 runs to their overnight total, their first innings eventually ending on 319. After Gary Ballance’s second Test century on Friday, nightwatchman Plunkett provided the main resistance, reaching his maiden test half century off 75 balls on his way to an unbeaten 55.

India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar claimed career-best bowling figures of 6-82

MATCH FACTS

India 295 and 169 for 4 (Vijay 59*; Plunkett 2 for 24) vs England 319 (Ballance 110; Bhuvneshwar 6 for 82)