Root and Ali runs frustrate India’s bowlers

JOE Root hit a sparkling century and stitched a crucial stand with Moeen Ali as England cruised to a strong 311-4 on the opening day of the first Test against India.

The 25-year-old right-hander put on 179 runs with Ali (99 not out) after India’s spinners had reduced England to 102-3 on a placid track at the Saurashtra Cricket Association ground in Rajkot.

At stumps yesterday, Ali was just one run shy of his fourth Test century and Ben Stokes was on 19.

Root smashed 11 fours and a six during his 124-run knock before bei ng c aug ht a nd bowled by r ig ht-a r m f a s t Umesh Yadav, who a l most lost t he cha nce as he r ushed to celebrate t he dismissa l.

Wit h A l i st a nd i ng g ta l l at one end, Enggland looked set for a big first innings total, vindindicat i ng capta i n A la st a i r Cook’s ca ll to bat f irst rst on winning the toss.

Root celebrated hisis 11t h Test ton, and t hird against India, by wav ing his s bat towards a g ratef ul England dressing room.

In completing the feat, Root became the firstrst overseas pl ayer t o score a century in India since Australia’s Michael Clarke in 2013. Ali put in a focused pe performance, negotiating 192 balls during his 243-minute stay at the crease. Root and Ali piled on the misery for India whowh were also set back by an injury t o p a c e s p e a r h e a d Mohammed Sham Shami. E Ea rl ier, a gr gripping o p e n i n g sessio session saw 1 9 - y e a r - o l d Ha s e e b Ha me e d become the you youngest player to open t he batting for England on debut.

The youngster, dubbed the “Baby Boycott” for his unf lappable batting st yle, made 31 during his 98 minutes at the crease before fa l l i ng lbw to world top-r a n ked spi n ner R a v i c h a n d r a n A s h w i n (2-108).

Ashwin also dismissed Ben Duckett for 13 but remained w icket less i n t he l a st t wo sessions.

Hameed and Cook (21) both benefited from the largesse of India’s f ielders who dropped some early chances.

Cook was dropped off Shami on t he t hi rd ba l l of t he innings, while Hameed got a reprieve on 13 when Murali Vijay grassed a catch off him at f irst slip.

The England skipper, who surpassed Michael Atherton’s record of 54 Tests as England captain, was adjudged leg before off left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja.

TV replays showed that the ball would have missed the leg stump but Cook did not refer to the third umpire even though the decision review system is being used for the first time by India in a home series.

Hameed showed little sign of nerves against top-ranked India, twice hitting Shami for boundaries in an over and driving Ashwin for an elegant four in the covers.