AGENCY
RAJKOT: Indian bowlers were made to toil as England began their campaign on a promising note, riding on star batsman Joe Root’s 11th century to finish the opening day of the first cricket Test at a solid 311/4 here.
England’s leading batsman in recent years, Root was his customary elegant self and made 124 off 180 balls, while Moeen Ali was one short of his fourth Test hundred when the stumps were drawn after 93 overs at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium.
Root’s effort was the first Test century by a visiting batsman in India since Michael Clarke’s 130 at Chennai in February 2013. This was also the first time in the last 21 innings a visiting side crossed a 300 plus score in India.
The 25-year-old Root’s maiden ton on the Indian soil was laced with one six and 11 fours, while Ali struck nine boundaries. The duo shared 179 runs for the fourth wicket to bail England out from a tricky 102/3.
Ben Stokes (19) was the other unbeaten batsman at stumps.
To India’s good fortune, the well-entrenched Root was dismissed midway into the last session through a return catch by Umesh Yadav who bent low to accept the firm drive but then, in his enthusiasm, flicked the ball back over his head.(PTI)