CHENNAI (India): Rohit Sharma bludgeoned England bowlers with a quick 161 to guide India to 300 for six on day one of the second Test on Saturday.
Rishabh Pant, on 33, and Axar Patel, on five, were batting at the close of play after England’s bowlers took three wickets in the final session.
Sharma put on a key fourth-wicket partnership of 162 with Ajinkya Rahane after India — down 1-0 in the four-match series — elected to bat first.
Spinners Jack Leach and Moeen Ali claimed two wickets each on a pitch that offered turn even on day one.
His seventh Test century was his first against England. When he crossed 150 in his 36th five-day match he got a standing ovation from the ecstatic crowd.
But spinner Jack Leach broke through with his left-arm spin to send Sharma back to the pavilion in the final session after the batsman holed out a catch to deep square leg.
Sharma, who also survived a stumping chance — given not out by the TV umpire — off Leach on 159, hit 18 fours and two sixes in his 231-ball stay.
Ali bowled skipper Virat Kohli for nought to put India in trouble at 86-3, stunning the raucous 15,000-strong home fans into silence.
“It was great fun to have them at the ground. I mean it is something that livens up the whole atmosphere of the stadium,” Sharma said of the fans.
“When there was no one at the ground in the first Test, the intensity was slightly low from both the teams… I am happy that they witnessed some good cricket today.”
“I believe 350 would be good score on this pitch and we still have four wickets left. We hope Pant and Axar can score big and get more runs as we know the wicket will turn more on day two, three and four.”
