Birmingham, July 3 (UNI) The inform Jonny Bairstow sped away to an unbeaten 91 as England were 200/6 at an early lunch due to rain on Day 3 of the delayed fifth Test at Edgbaston here on Sunday.
Resuming at overnight 84/5, the hosts added 116 runs for the loss of Ben Stokes (25) in an intense morning session.
They trail India by 216 runs, but Bairstow is in an attacking mood and if he keeps going he could turn the match in England's favour as he did against New Zealand.
In contrast, Bairstow was swishing the bat without connecting balls hurled by Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah at the start as he looked to break his shackles.
Looking at Bairstow's struggle, Captain Ben Stokes opted to step out and even nailed one of the balls off Shami, sending a strong message that England would not be cowered by India's diktat.
The approach paid off and both the overnight batsmen negotiated a testing half-an-hour's play and managed to add 39 runs.
Simultaneously, Bairstow was engaged in war of words with former India Captain Virat Kohli, which forced to launch a murderous attack on India.
He lifted Bumrah and Shami's full balls over the in-field, and flicked and chipped Siraj over mid-wicket and cover for consecutive boundaries in his first over of the day.
This assault was in contrast to his first 16 runs which he made in 64 balls, but reached 50 off the next 14 balls which was decorated with 6 boundaries.
Stokes was lucky to have been dropped by Shardul Thakur and Bumrah, but did not remain long at the crease. In a coverup for their missed chances, Bumrah brought about a splendid goalkeeping type diving catch at mid-off to send Stokes packing for 25 after a 66 runs stand for the sixth wicket.
Stokes' wicket did not bother Bairstow and continued with his attacking game. He was merciless against Thakur and Siraj. He punished Thakur by swivel-pulling and striking him through covers and then pulling Siraj for a six.
Thakur was then clobbered over mid-wicket for another six as Bairstow raced towards his century.
The inform batsman opted for DRS after he was wrongly adjudged out off an inside edge before the day saw its first spell of rain sending the players in for an early Lunch.
Brief scores: England 200/6 (Jonny Bairstow 91, Joe Root 31; Jasprit Bumrah 3-55) trail India 416 by 216 runs.
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