THRILLS AND SPILLS WITH BROOK GRAY-NICOLL CENTRE STAGE

Harry just misses ton but leaves match in the balance on wild day

- Mike Walters

HARRY BROOK lived a more charmed life than a snake in a basket, so he need not beat himself up for becoming England's latest 99 flake.

But what a shame for his adoring Yorkshire flock that the 26-year-old fell one run short of a ninth Test century by following the Bazball manual - attack and be damned - to the letter.

England ended the first innings just six runs shy of India's total an unlikely feat when the tourists were 430-3 before lunch on Saturday and now the first Test at Headingley is beautifully poised.

Before light rain trimmed half an time around, but they must be kicking themselves.

Six dropped catches and Jasprit Bumrah's costly no-ball turned what should have been a match-winning lead into a possible thriller.

With two days to go it is too close to call, and India could still live to regret Bumrah's overstep when Brook, on nought, suffered a rush of blood and miscued to mid-on in the last over of Saturday's frantic finale.