Ben Stokes had a match to remember, the first England captain to hit a century and take five wickets in a Test. Eight years after he had to wait for another five-wicket haul, he came back with a sparkling hundred his first in nearly three years. He crossed the threshold with a soft knock to fine leg, similar to Joe Root doing the previous day. Stokes then removed his helmet, gazed upwards, and performed a special gesture to honor his deceased father. England approached 600 runs as Stokes yet again demonstrated why he is regarded as one of the finest all-rounders of the current generation not only for his statistics, but for the match-winning moments that he produces. What makes this feat all the more remarkable is the situation in which it was achieved. Stokes strolled in with England already on top, but ensured that he drove the momentum further. He mapped out his innings astutely being patient during the initial stages and then kicking on when required. With every boundary, he increased the level of energy in the stadium and kept the scoreboard moving. His effort was not about runs and wickets alone; it was about driving the show from the front and motivating his team. In a game in which England dominated with the bat, Stokes' all-around excellence remained the standout highlight. Also Read | Bumrah’s Pace Drop in Manchester Test: A Sign of Fatigue or Injury? Woakes strikes twice as England dominate early England entered lunch in total command after a dream beginning to the session. Chris Woakes hit twice in two balls, dismissing both Jaiswal and Sai Sudharsan even before India could score a single run. The ball was doing a lot under overcast skies, and the English pacers Woakes, Archer, Carse, and Stokes made the most of it. It was a testing period for the Indian batsmen, with swing, bounce, and good movement doing all sorts of mischief. Even if there was a sun break, England had Liam Dawson standing by to probe the left-handers with spin. It was generally a session that belonged clearly to England, with India in trouble and facing a big challenge ahead.