Jonny Bairstow continues his stunning form against India

Jonny Bairstow was at his brilliant best again on Sunday morning as he bludgeoned his way towards another hundred against India at Edgbaston. 

England struggled to score in the latter stages of day two as wickets tumbled, but Bairstow and Ben Stokes set about upping the run rate in the morning session on day three.

Resuming on 84-5, the pair took on India’s seamers, with Bairstow in particular, looking to be ultra-positive.

Bairstow took India’s bowling attack apart during a brilliant batting display on Sunday morning

The Yorkshireman hit two hundreds in the recent series against New Zealand, and looked in fine touch once again, crunching shots over the off and leg side.

Stokes also tried to be aggressive, but could not find his timing, and he was given two lives after being dropped by Shardul Thakur and Jasprit Bumrah.

It was third time lucky for India, though, when Stokes took the aerial route again off Thakur, with Bumrah diving to his left to take a stunning catch.

Shardul Thakur dropped a simple catch which would have dismissed Ben Stokes

Thakur could not believe that he had given the England captain a life early on in his innings

However, Thakur got his revenge when he had Stokes caught by Jasprit Bumrah

This brought Sam Billings to he crease, and his job was clear – give the strike to Bairstow.

He duly obliged, and Bairstow continued on his merry way, striking two sixes to move towards another ton.

He did require a reprieve just before lunch when he was given out lbw off the bowling of Thakur. However, Bairstow immediately reviewed, and DRS confirmed that he had got an inside edge on the ball, much to the delight of the home crowd. 

Rain brought a premature end to an entertaining session, with Bairstow unbeaten on 91, having moved England to 200-6 at lunch.