New Delhi: India opener Kannaur Lokesh Rahul on Sunday joined a select group of batsmen to got out on 199 even as India mounted a strong reply to England's first innings total of 477 on Day 3 of the fifth and final Test in Chennai.
In the 103rd over, off the third ball, Rahul chased a wide leg-break from Adil Rashid and ended up offering an easy catch to Jos Buttler at cover point. The 24-year-old was one run short of his maiden double hundred.
He thus became the ninth batsman in the history of Test cricket to get dismissed on 199, joining Mudassar Nazar, Mohammad Azharuddin, Matthew Elliott, Sanath Jayasuriya, Steve Waugh, Younis Khan, Ian Bell and Steven Smith.
A crestfallen Rahul stooped to his knees, hands on head even as the capacity Chepauk crowd applauded his effort.
He, however, helped India to a strong position. At Stumps on Day 3, India were only 87 runs behind England with six wickets in hand.
Rahul and Parthiv Patel laid a solid foundation, posting 152 runs for the opening stand. After Patel's dismissal. Cheteshwar Pujara and skipper Virat Kohli failed to last long, but Rahul and another rookie in Karun Nair stayed together for 41.5 overs to produce 161 runs for the fourth wicket.
India have already won the series, thanks to three back-to-back victories in Visakhapatnam, Mohali and Mumbai.
