England rode on well-crafted centuries from Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali to finish their first innings at an imposing 537 on day two of the opening cricket Test against India here today.
Ali and Stokes’ efforts followed Joe Root’s 124, which laid the foundation for the visitors’ big total on the first day.
Ali struck 117 and Stokes top-scored with 128 against a listless Indian bowling attack that was plundered for a whopping 139 runs in 30 overs in the pre-lunch period.
Stokes, who struck 2 sixes and 13 fours in his 235-ball knock, departed just before the scheduled tea interval and England lost their last wicket, of Zafar Ansari, for 32 during the extended second session. This was England’s third-best innings total in India.
Amit Mishra trapped Ansari leg before on the sweep shot to bring the innings to a close after England had batted for nearly ten and a half hours.