Birmingham, Jul 4 (PTI) 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.

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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.

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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).

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)