Rajkot, Nov 12 (IANS) Stumper Wriddhiman Saha and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin put on an undefeated 50-run stand to take India to 411/6 at lunch on the fourth day of the opening Test against England here on Saturday.
Saha and Ashwin were batting on 29 when the umpires called the lunch break.
Indian captain Virat Kohli and his deputy Ajinkya Rahane ensured that the hosts started the day on a steady note.
Resuming on the overnight score of 319/4, Kohli and Jadeja saw off the initial spells from England pacers Stuart Broad and Chris Woakes.
The duo added 30 runs between them before Rahane was bowled by left-arm spinner Zafar Ansari.
England captain Alistair Cook employed a packed field on the off-side which forced the Indian batsmen to repeatedly try to score on the onside.
The move paid rich dividends as both Rahane and Kohli departed in quick succession while trying to hit against the turn to the onside.
Rahane was dismissed while trying to work the ball to the onside against the spin. But he misjudged the length and could only watch as the ball crashed into his stumps.
THe Mumbai batsman scored 13 off 30 balls with one hit to the fence.
Kohli was also dismissed while trying to hit to the onside. The Indian captain stepped too deep inside his crease while pulling leg-spinner Adil Rashid and tread on the stumps during the follow through.
Kohli scored 40 runs with five boundaries studding his 95-ball stay in the middle.
Ashwin and Saha then took charge in the middle and produced an unbeaten stand of 50 runs to ensure that the hosts went into the lunch break without furter loss of wickets.
Brief scores:
India (First Innings): 411/6 (Murali Vijay 126, Cheteshwar Pujara 124, Virat Kohli 40) Vs England 537.
--IANS
ajb/vm
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