3rd Test: We are remain in a good position in the game, says Craig Overton

England striker Craig Overton insists the hosts are still in an excellent position to level their five-match series despite a spirited rearguard action by India’s top order on day three of the third test at Headingley on Friday.

India were 215 for two in their second innings at stumps on the third day but still trailed by 139 runs after conceding a first-innings lead of 354 runs.

“It obviously was frustrating for us, but we got to make sure that we get early breakthroughs. The first hour’s play would be massive,” Overton said.

Cheteshwar Pujara frustrated Joe Root’s men with an unbeaten 91, compiling an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 99 with Virat Kohli (45 not out), after Rohit Sharma (59) had earlier registered his 14th Test half-century.

“We knew they would come back and fight again today. We know what they are like as a team and what their characters are like, so we knew it would be tricky,” Overton said.

“Credit to them, they played really well and made it hard for us, and we’ve got to come back tomorrow and show what we can do again.

Overton said they tried to stick to basics against Indian skipper Virat Kohli who seemed to be getting back to form.

“Kohli is one of the characters who likes to get going. As a side, we were just trying to make sure that we do our business as well as we can, not ignore him but making sure that we stick to our basics of what we do well as a side,” Overton said of their strategy against the Indian skipper.