Joe Root and Moeen Ali during their partnership on Day 1 of the first test match against India at Rajkot. Image Source: twitter[/caption]Internet Desk: England batsmen gave a good account of themselves on the first day of the test series in India as Alistair Cook’s team put 311/4 at stumps at the Sourashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. Joe Root scored his maiden test ton on Indian soil while Moeen Ali is just one run away from the milestone. Ravichandran Ashwin was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 2/108.
Indian spinners were put to real test by England batsmen Joe Root and Moeen Ali as they put 179 runs for the fourth wicket. Root was caught and bowled by Umesh Yadav. His knock included 11 fours and a six.
At the tea break, the duo added 107 runs for the fourth wicket in 31.3 overs as none of the Indian bowlers failed to break the deadlock. Root was batting on 93 while Moeen Ali is inching towards his half-century at 48.
The Indian team had a slight concern as premier fast bowler Mohammed Shami walked off the field feeling his hamstring having bowled only 9.1 overs. Shami did returned to bowl with the new ball in the 81st over.
The pair resurrected the England innings after they lost captain Alastair Cook, his debutant opening partner Haseeb Hameed and Ben Dockett before lunch, the tourists held the upper hand in the opening skirmish of the five-game rubber.
In the first session, Ashwin had accounted for the wickets of Hameed, whose dismissal also brought into play the Decision Review System for the first ever time in a Test match played in this country, and Duckett.
Home town boy Jadeja had earlier given India the first break at 47 by earning successfully a shout for leg before wicket against England skipper Cook.
But thereafter India s success in wicket-taking ended, although they came close to dislodging Root close to tea who escaped a referral, the first called for by the home side in the match, after being hit low on the front pad by Umesh Yadav.
The not out decision by on-field umpire was reviewed by the Indians but replays showed the ball just kissing the leg stump and the original not out decision remained.
England find themselves in a strong position on 311/4 with Moeen Ali not out on 99* and Ben Stokes batting on 19*.
Brief Scores:
England 1st Innings: 311/4 in 93 overs (Joe Root 124, Moeen Ali 99 batting, R Ashwin 2/108).
0 comments:
Post a Comment