CHENNAI (India): India are in a solid position after a commanding 249 runs lead against England in the second Test here on Sunday.
Earlier, spinner Ravichandran Ashwin claimed five wickets to skittle out England for 134 while the hosts reached 54 for one at stumps.
Rohit Sharma on 25 and Cheteshwar Pujara on seven were at the crease.
Sharma, who hit 161 in India’s first innings, survived a stumping chance on 20 when wicketkeeper Ben Foakes failed to gather the ball to his left off Moeen Ali.
Jack Leach trapped Shubman Gill leg before for 14 with his left-arm spin and the opener walked back after an unsuccessful TV review.
Ashwin claimed five wickets to end England’s first innings while responding to India’s 329 on a turning pitch. The tourists conceded a lead of 195.
It was the veteran off-spinner’s second successive five-wicket haul and his 29th in 76 Tests. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel and fast bowler Ishant Sharma took two wickets each.
Foakes made an unbeaten on 42 off 107 balls.
England had crashed to 39 for four in a dramatic morning session that saw the fall of eight wickets, including skipper Joe Root for six.
