99 FLAKE

Yorkshireman Harry falls one short of a ton on home turf as Test turns tasty

- 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 he fell one run short of a ninth Test century by following the Bazball manual - attack and be damned - to the letter.

As England came within a whisker of the adage that parity begins at home, they ended just six runs shy of India first innings, an unlikely feat when the tourists were 430-3 before lunch on Saturday.

Before light rain trimmed half an hour off the third day's play at Headingley, India were 96 runs to the good at 90-2 second time around, but they must be kicking themselves.