Rajkot: Team India end the second day at a strong 63 for no loss in reply to England's 537 in Rajkot. They still trail the visiting team by 474 runs.
The team management and Virat Kohli in particular would be very happy with the start given by the openers. Gautam Gambhir is unbeaten on 28, while Murali Vijay is still batting on 25.
It was a long day for Indian players in the field as England amassed a huge total of 537 in the first innings. Moeen Ali who ended the first day's play on unbeaten 99, reached the milestone in the first over of the second day. He was dismissed for 117 by pacer Mohammed Shami, after which Ben Stokes took over the responsibility to score the runs for the English team.
The all-rounder struck a flamboyant 128, and was well assisted by Jonny Bairstow (46) and Zafar Ansari (32) as England posted a daunting total. Ravindra Jadeja was the pick of the bowlers for India, the left-arm spinner took three wickets. Shami, Umesh Yadav and R Ashwin took two wickets each, while Amit Mishra clinched the wicket of Zafar Ansari.
India: 63/0 from 23 overs
That's the end of second day's play. A very good session for India.
India: 54/0 from 20 overs
Indian openers are looking solid and have put up an unbeaten stand of over 50 runs. England have brought Zafar Ansari into the attack.
India: 49/0 from 15 overs
15 overs gone in Indian innings and they have reached 49 for no loss. Vijay is batting on 22 while Gambhir is batting on 17.
India: 35/0 from 10 overs
England's strike bowler Stuart Broad was hit for three boundaries by Murali Vijay in the ninth over. India have made a good start in Rajkot
India: 17/0 from 5 overs
Indian openers have made a brisk start in Rajkot. They are batting cautiously, but are also putting away the bad balls for boundaries.
India: 4/0 from 1 over
Vijay gets off the mark with a boundary through the fine leg. Broad picked the wrong line and the ball was going down leg. It was glanced fine by the batsman for four runs.
Indian openers, Murali Vijay and Gautam Gambhir are at the crease. Broad will open the attack.
England innings:
England 537 all out from 159.3 overs
All out! Finally. Amit Mishra gets a solitary wicket as Ansari is adjudged out LBW. Indian batsmen have an uphill task as they take field after tea.
Stuart Broad has come out to join Zafar Ansari in the middle. The tall bowler has got a highest score of 169 in Tests.
England: 517/9 from 152.5 overs
Wicket! Yadav to Stokes, out caught by Saha. India finally get the wicket of the all-rounder, who scored 128. More importantly a catch has been finally taken off Yadav's bowling. The ball was going leg, batsmen tries to glance it and ends up getting a little tickle. Saha takes the catch diving to right.
England: 513/8 from 150 overs
Not much happening out there. Looks like the English plan is to bat as long as possible, and tire out the Indian players. You would have expected that Stokes will go all aggressive after reaching his hundred, but the all-rounder has adopted a cautious approach.
England: 504/8 from 143 overs
England have crossed the 500-run mark in Rajkot against India. Alastair Cook would be delighted with the start. It's been a long time since India came out to field, and captain Kohli would be worried about his players getting tired.
England: 478/8 from 135.2 overs
Century! All-rounder Ben Stokes gets to his 100. Well played, it has been a measured innings.
England: 465/8 from 130 overs
Wicket! Jadeja to Rashid, out caught by Yadav. Second wicket for Jadeja after lunch, It's like a mini comeback for India. Rashid plays it through the mid-on but fails to get it over Yadav. The pacer grabs the catch.
England: 451/7 from 124 overs
Wicket! Jadeja to Woakes, out caught by Saha. First ball to Woakes after lunch and the batsman didn't know what to do. The ball spun a little and he ended up edging it to Saha.
Rajkot: England have dominated the proceeding this morning and the first session of the day well and truly belonged to the visitors. Moeen Ali, who ended the first day unbeaten on 99, reached the milestone in the first over. He was dismissed by Mohammed Shami, but Umesh Yadav was not as lucky as Shami. Wriddhiman Saha dropped two catches in the morning session off Yadav's bowling.
Shami also picked the wicket of Jonny Bairstow. The big man Ben stokes is still out there and is looking dangerous as he remains unbeaten on 84.
England: 450/6 from 123 overs
England go into lunch 450/6 and the day only keep getting better for the visitors. Stokes is unbeaten on 84. Shami picked both the wickets for India in the morning session today.
England: 442/6 from 121 overs
Wicket! Shami to Bairstow, out caught by Saha! This time the wicketkeeper made no mistake.
England: 425/5 from 118 overs
It's surprising that Kohli has opted to not use Jadeja at all this morning. Amit Mishra has been asked by the captain to do the job. Meanwhile, poor fielding continues to haunt India. Stokes has been dropped twice in three overs by Saha.
England: 400/5 from 113 overs
400! England cross 400-run mark in Rajkot. The pitch is still very good for batting, and over that Indian fielders have failed to take their chances. Stokes is the fortunate one this time as wicketkeeper Saha dropped his catch.
England: 378/5 from 109 overs
Fifty! Ben Stokes scores his fifty. The all-rounder has made a good start to the India tour.
England: 360/5 from 105 overs
England have lost Ali this morning, but that doesn't seem to have bothered them. 49 runs have been added today in just 12 overs.
England: 343/5 from 99.4 overs
Wicket! Shami to Ali, out bowled. Ali decided to leave one and that same ball uproots his off-stump. Shami coming from around the wicket has done the trick for India.
England: 335/4 from 97 overs
The early signs are not good for India, it could end up being a long day in the field for Indian bowlers. The pair of Ali and Ben Stokes has now crossed the 50-run partnership mark.
England: 326/4 from 95 overs
Ali is looking in great touch, the all-rounder just smashed Umesh Yadav for three boundaries.
England: 312/4 from 93.3 overs
Moeen Ali takes the single and completes his century. Well played!
India have taken the new ball. Shami will bowl the first over of the day.
The day 2 pitch has got some fresh grass and looks like it will assist the batsmen.
Rajkot: Welcome everyone to the second day of play here in Rajkot. On Wednesday, England enjoyed a brilliant start to their tour of India as they finished the day strongly at 311-4.
England won the toss and elected to bat first. The decision was proven correct by Joe Root and Moeen Ali, both batsmen batted beautifully. The pair also put together a 179-run stand. Root made an easy 124 before getting out on the bowling of Umesh Yadav. Ali is unbeaten on 99 and would be hoping to reach the milestone as quickly as possible.
Virat Kohli would be hoping for an improved performance from his bowlers on the second day. Mohammed Shami encountered hamstring issues yesterday; however, India’s batting coach Sanjay Bangar confirmed at the end of the day that it was a minor cramp, and that Shami was expected to bowl on day two.
First session would be crucial for both teams, more so for Team India as they hope to make a comeback in the Test. Three catches were dropped by Kohli’s team in the first session of day one, and similar mistakes could prove to be very costly for India.
England: 311-4 (Joe Root 124, Moeen Ali 99*, R Ahwin 108/2, Ravindra Jadeja 59/1)
