India vs England, 1st Test, Day 2, Highlights: Steady openers take India to 63/0 at stumps

Stumps on Day 2: India reach 63/0 in 23 overs with Gambhir (28 not out) and Vijay (25 not out) going strong. England will have to target the first session tomorrow, when the pacers are likely to get some purchase. After that the pitch will slow down considerably. With the depth and quality in batting that India has, they will be looking to wipe out England’s lead of 474 runs and post a substantial lead of their own.

Bounce and turn. Rashid beats Gambhir comprehensively.

Rashid bowling the last over of the day.

Legbreak bowler Adil Rashid introduced into the attack with three overs to go. Bowls a full toss and Gambhir dispatches him to the long on fence.

Big appeal against Gambhir off Ansari, but the ball was clearly going down leg. Turned down by umpire Dharmasena.

Left-arm spin for England now, with Zafar Ansari in the attack.

Fifty up for India in the 16th over, with both openers going strong.

After 15 overs,India 49/0 ( Murali Vijay 22 , Gautam Gambhir 17)

Meanwhile, Gambhir is looking very solid. The open stance has really helped him, it seems. India 49/0 after 14 overs.

Close shave for India! Sharp turn from Ali, beats Vijay all ends up. Misses the off stump by inches.

Four! A juicy full toss outside off stump by Woakes. Thank you very much, says Gambhir.

End of 10 overs; India reach 35/0; Vijay and Gambhir batting on 19 and 11 respectively

Live: https://t.co/JuT2JTwAGl #INDvENG

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) November 10, 2016

Vijay hits three fours off Broad – the first a delightful drive through the covers, the other straight past the bowler and the last towards third man. The Indian openers have come out with really thinking positively and look to take the fight to the opposition. India move to 35/0.

Some turn generated by Ali already. His flighted delivery misses Gambhir’s bat and eludes the keeper and first slip and runs away for four byes.

India have made a steady start to their innings, moving to 17/0 after first 5 overs, with both openers looking pretty comfortable. The wicket is playing good and the England bowlers haven’t probed the Indian batsmen enough in the initial overs. And inevitably, spin is introduced, with Moeen Ali in the attack now.

Shivnarine Gambhir looking solid so far. #INDvENG

— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 10, 2016

Four! Gambhir punishes a wide delivery from Woakes. India moves on to 15/0.

Four! Gambhir turns one off his pads for a boundary. He will look to make this innings count; has left a few outside off stump and now gets the boundary.

Murali Vijay gets off the mark with a boundary. First runs for India.

The Indian innings starts. Murali Vijay and Gautam Gambhir have come out to bat.

R Ashwin against ENG in 7 Tests
318.2-54-1005-19
Avg : 52.9
SR : 100.5#INDvENG

— JSK (@imjsk27) November 10, 2016

Tea, day 2: England’s innings ends finally. England’s approach in the 2nd session was weird. They didn’t score at the same rate as they did in the first session. Maybe they wanted to tire Indian fielders more before asking them to bat. Nonetheless, 537 is a huge score and the hosts have an uphill task cut for them.

Only once ENGLAND has scored more than 537 runs in an innings & lost - 551/6 dec against Australia in Adelaide in 2006. #IndvsEng

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 10, 2016

OUT! Mishra finally strikes. Ansari attempts a sweep shot, misses and the ball goes onto hit his pads. He reviews it straightaway, and the replays show he’s out. India bowl out England for 537.

Bowling change: Mishra comes into the attack.

After 155 overs, England are 522/8 (Ansari 23, Broad 0)

Yadav got the all important wicket of Stokes for 128, Broad comes out to replace him. It’s the first time he’s batting at No 11 in Tests. 9 runs off last 5 overs.

OUT! Stokes’ innings finally comes to an end for 128, caught behind off Yadav’s bowling. Broad comes out to replace him at the centre.

India vs England: Ben Stokes could be the talisman the visitors desperately need – Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

Fifty-run partnership comes up between Stokes and Ansari in 123 balls. Ben Stokes has contributed 32 while Ansari has scored 18.

After 150 overs, England are 513/8 (Stokes 125, Ansari 17)  

Not much happening. India have kept things tight, and slowed down England’s scoring rate. Only 6 runs off last 5 overs. But the need of the hour is wickets and Indian bowlers need to find a way to bundle England out.

Shami reintroduced alongside Umesh. Starts off his new spell with a maiden in the 148th over

Live: https://t.co/JuT2JTwAGl #INDvENG

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) November 10, 2016

After 145 overs, England are 507/8 (Stokes 121, Ansari 15)

Mishra’s having a torrid Test so far 10 runs off his comeback over. England have crossed the 500-run mark. Also, Zafar Ansari breaks free and slams a four off Ashwin’s bowling. What should we be expecting now? Kohli brings Yadav back into the attack to take two quick wickets, will it work?

The last time a visiting team scored 500 in India was also by ENG at Kolkata in 2012.#INDvENG

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) November 10, 2016

So England get to 500. Can we get NaMo to demonitise this one? #IndvsEng

— Saurabh Somani (@saurabh_42) November 10, 2016

This is 25th time a visiting team has scored 500+ in India. India had not won any of the previous 24 Tests. #IndvsEng

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) November 10, 2016

500-run mark comes up for India in the 143rd over. Stokes and Ansari are the crease.

Time for Drinks. England reach 495/8 after 140 overs; Stokes batting on 117.

SIX! Stokes miscues towards long-on boundary, where Vijay fails to throw it back inside on time

Live: https://t.co/JuT2JTwAGl #INDvENG

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) November 10, 2016

After 139 overs, England are 485/8 (Stokes 108, Ansari 6)

Right, Stokes has completed the milestone. Time to declare or accelerate? The way they are batting it seems like they have no intention of declaring the innings. What are they aiming at? 525-550? Depends on how Stokes approaches his innings now. Amidst all this, missed chances have just not stopped! Stokes goes down the ground to play Ashwin, he misses it, Saha misses a stumping chance and eventually England get a bonus boundary. Fielding coach R Sridhar has lots of work to do before the 2nd Test.

BEN STOKES vs India:

0
0
0
104*#IndvsEng

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 10, 2016

CENTURY! Ben Stokes cuts Jadeja and picks up the bat between point and cover and the ball races away for a four. It’s his fourth ton and the 3rd of the innings. 

After 134 overs, England are 471/8 (Stokes 97, Ansari 3)

Wickets are coming, but slowly. The flow of the runs has been curbed somewhat, also because Ben Stokes is in nineties. He doesn’t want to give it away and is playing defensively.

OUT! Rashid tries to hit Jadeja over mid-on, miscues and Yadav takes it comfortably.    

After 129 overs, England are 465/7 (Stokes 94, Rashid 5)

India begun the session by taking the Woakes’ wicket in the first over itself. But, then the same story has continued. Mishra missed a half chance of run-out by being too laid back. Stokes went for a maximum, it looked like a catch. Kohli ran from mid wicket to catch it, but the ball fell in between Kohli and Vijay who was at long-on. It was Vijay’s catch but Kohli had called it and he decided to not for it.

STAT:

England have never lost a Test match after scoring 450+ in their 1st innings against India. #INDvENG

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) November 10, 2016

OUT! Woakes nicks off Jadeja’s fourth ball after lunch and Saha catches it. He falls for 4, Adil Rashid comes out to replace him at the centre.    

When you look at Umesh Yadav's bowling figures,do bear in mind what they might have looked like with a bit more support in the field.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 10, 2016

India vs England: James Anderson hopeful of being fit for Vizag Testhttp://www.firstpost.com

England amassed 139 runs for two in a dominant session at the start of Day 2.

Live: https://t.co/JuT2JTeZON #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/47jePufgZW

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) November 10, 2016

After 123 overs, England are 450/5 (Stokes 84, Woakes 4)

Bruteless England, Hapless India. Sums up the session really. The half chances continue but the scoring hasn’t stopped. First Bairstow pulls Yadav which goes on to hit Pujara on his left knee and rebounds towards Kohli at short mid-on. Kohli dives but the ball falls just short off him. Bairstow hits a half hearted pull next ball, but again the ball falls just of Jadeja at mid-on. Jadeja came into the attack in the 120th over and conceeded 11 runs off his first of the day. England’s run rate this session has been 4.63! Shami comes into the attack and breaks the partnership by getting Bairstow for 46. Woakes comes out to join Stokes at the centre. The visitors look good to reach 500, maybe more if they wish to. Kohli’s captaincy put to test by England really. And it’s lunch!

India employing pacers at both ends at 121-122 over mark. Pointer towards how spinners have been rendered ineffective.#IndvEng #IndvsENg

— Suneer (@suneerchowdhary) November 10, 2016

OUT! After 2 dropped chances, Saha finally collects one. Bairstow departs off Shami’s bowling. He falls for four short off his fifty. 

After 116 overs, England are 415/5 (Stokes 62, Bairstow 38)

Going from bad to worse for India. Yadav replaces Ashwin in the bowling attack. And Saha drops Stokes twice off Yadav’s bowling in successive overs. It seems like England will reach the 500-run mark easily. Yadav will find himself lucky, he’s been robbed of  a couple of wickets (at least) since yesterday.

DROPPED! Saha puts down Stokes again off Yadav's bowling. Twice in 2 overs. https://t.co/JuT2JTwAGl #INDvENG

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) November 10, 2016

400 up for England. Looking good for 500 here. And they have six full-time bowlers. India have five full-time batsmen. Do the math! #IndvEng

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) November 10, 2016

First 400+ total in India by a visiting team in an inn. since Aus made 408 at Mohali in the first innings. #INDvENG

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) November 10, 2016

400 comes up for England in the 113th over.

Or maybe England are just batting too well… 

Not sure what's more alarming for Virat... that his five-bowler ploy isnt working or that his spinners are bleeding runs. #IndvEng

— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) November 10, 2016

Last 10 sixth wkt stands for ENGLAND:

50*
12
45
127
88
65
93
152
66
57#IndvsEng

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 10, 2016

Fifty run stand comes up between Stokes and Bairstow in only 69 balls!

After 111 overs, England are 387/5 (Stokes 59, Bairstow 18)

Spin from both ends continues for India. But they are struggling to challenge the England batsmen. The scoring rate has not dipped one bit. Mishra is looking in a bit of hurry to complete his overs, bowling far too many loose deliveries and leaking runs.

FIFTY! Stokes punches it down to long-on to take a single and gets to his 8th Test half century.

Will he return to the side for the 2nd Test? Only time will tell. 

Jimmy Anderson bowling in the nets. Just taken out Gary Ballance's off stump with a beauty.

— George Dobell (@GeorgeDobell1) November 10, 2016

After 103 overs, England are 371/5 (Stokes 48, Bairstow 13)

The message from the away camp seems pretty straight — go for the 500-run mark. England have been very busy on the pitch, stealing singles, running hard for the second if it’s on offer and not shying to hit the ball bad away. Bairstow lofted Mishra for a six. Vital runs this for England, India need to find a solution to curb them. And it’s drinks!

England batsmen hit 33 fours in 93 overs yesterday. They have hit 8 fours in just ten overs today. #IndvsEng

— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) November 10, 2016

Cook, Root and Moeen. India have quite a few names to worry about in the series. 

Moeen Ali
in 2014 + 2015 : 849 runs @ 26.5 in 33 inns (1 100 & 4 50s)
in 2016 : 814 runs @ 54.3 in 21 inns (3 100s & 4 50s)#INDvENG

— JSK (@imjsk27) November 10, 2016

India vs England: Virat Kohli and Co dream recent run ends with rude wake-up callhttp://www.firstpost.com

India vs England: As Joe Root and Moeen Ali shine, are dreams of an upset brewing already? – Firstposthttp://www.firstpost.com

After 103 overs, England are 356/5 (Stokes 42, Bairstow 4)

Shami castled Moeen, but he had already set the platform for England. Bairstow replaces Moeen at the centre. Stokes is still playing his natural game and getting those odd boundaries comfortably. 17 off the last 5 overs.

The highest first inngs score for ENGLAND in India in a losing cause is 347 at the Wankhede in 1993. #IndvsEng

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) November 10, 2016

OUT! Shami comes from round the wicket to Moeen and bowls a sharp in swinger. The southpaw left the ball alone. The misjudgment cost him as the ball went on hit his off stump. Brilliant innings though, takes the long back on 117. 

BOWLED'EM! Big breakthrough. Shami bowls a sharp in swinger to Moeen to send his off stump flying. https://t.co/JuT2JTwAGl #INDvENG pic.twitter.com/NTdbvPDBrG

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) November 10, 2016

As it turns out India, and Rajkot, have given England exactly what they needed; a big shot of confidence.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 10, 2016

When a team comes visiting with doubt, even fear, in its mind it is good strategy to play to that fear. This had to be a turning track.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) November 10, 2016

After 98 overs, England are 339/4 (Moeen 117, Stokes 29)

Oh, boy! What a start by England. They’ve come out with attacking intent. Moeen began the onslaught after getting to his century, smashing 12 runs off Umesh’s first over. Stokes joined the party by pulling Shami to deep mid-wicket. Reckon visitors want to make the most of the hard new ball before spinners come into the action. They have already scored 28 off the first 5 overs.

Fifty run stand comes up between Moeen and Stokes. https://t.co/JuT2JTwAGl #INDvENG

— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) November 10, 2016

They certainly are! 

Not a single hundred by a touring batsman in three years, and now two in the first innings. India know they are in a fight.

— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) November 10, 2016

2012 (Nagpur by Eng) - Last time when two visiting batsmen scored centuries in an inn. of a Test played in IND before today. #INDvENG

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) November 10, 2016

Agree with Michael Atherton? 

Lovely innings by Moeen Ali. "His best for England," says Michael Atherton. #INDvENG

— Pratyush Sinha (@prat1204) November 10, 2016

Eng batsmen to score a 100 in their maiden inn. in IND:
Barrington
Botham
Collingwood
C Cowdrey
T Graveney
B Valentine
M ALI* #INDvENG

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) November 10, 2016

CENTURY! Moeen Ali defends the ball towards off-side and takes a quick single to get to his first overseas ton. 

The match is underway. India has taken the new ball, Shami begins the proceedings for hosts.

The second day is just moments away. Should India take the new ball straightaway? Will Moeen Ali get to his century? Stay tuned for live updates.

Get those 6 wickets in the first session itself India or there could be deep trouble ahead -- in this Test and the series #INDvENG

— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) November 10, 2016

How many runs will Moeen Ali add to his overnight score?

Most Runs added by Eng batsmen after overnight score of 99:

79 G Hick
21 W Hammond
20 J Hobbs
14 A Lamb

MOEEN ALI - ?#INDvENG

— Umang Pabari (@UPStatsman) November 10, 2016

#INDvENG Rajkot Test - @ImSanjayBangar’s video recap of Day 1 https://t.co/WnBZHy1tor pic.twitter.com/QywIAFonIr

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 10, 2016

Day 2. How do you think the pitch will play? #INDvENG @Paytm Test cricket pic.twitter.com/VBTHST8Pod

— BCCI (@BCCI) November 10, 2016

Hello and welcome to the coverage of day 2 of the first Test between India and England in Rajkot. Play starts at 9.30 AM IST. Follow this space for live scores and updates.