Birmingham | Harry Brook and Jamie Smith scored fluent unbeaten centuries to take England to 355 for 5 at tea, frustrating the Indian bowlers on day three of the second Test here on Friday.
After India pacer Mohammed Siraj provided back-to-back breakthroughs in only the second over of the day by getting rid of the dangerous Joe Root (22) and captain Ben Stokes for a first-ball duck, India ran into the gritty Brook and Smith who scored unbeaten 140 and 157 respectively.
They shared an unbroken 271-run partnership for the sixth wicket.
England, who were at one point staring at the prospect of a follow-on earlier during the day when they were reduced to 84/5, are now 232 runs short of India's first-innings total of 587.
Smith was the first to complete his century just before lunch, while overnight batter Brook reached the landmark soon after the break.
Brief Score:
India 1st innings: 587 all out
England 1st innings: 355 for 5 in 75 overs (Jamie Smith 157 batting, Harry Brook 140 batting; M Siraj 3/57, Akash Deep 2/70).
