Vijay and Pujara dent England’s morale

Jos Buttler confirmed his value to England with a half-century from number seven, but more hard work lay ahead for the tourists after a chastening second day of the fourth Test.

Buttler dug in for a 76 to help England to 400 all out against spinners Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja at the Wankhede Stadium.

Ashwin claimed six for 112 and Jadeja returned four for 109 before Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara responded with an unbroken second-wicket century stand.

India reached 146 for one at stumps in Mumbai, seeking to defend their already unbeatable 2-0 series lead.

The home batsmen appeared to identify Adil Rashid as the chief threat on a spinners’ pitch, and refused to let him settle.

The result was a 126-ball half-century for Vijay, with Pujara dutifully keeping him company.

England had resumed on 288 for five, with Buttler taking responsibility for eking out a substantial first-innings total with Jake Ball’s help in a ninth-wicket partnership of 54.

Buttler’s innings contained two perfectly-executed reverse-sweeps off Jadeja among his six fours.

Ashwin and Jadeja accounted for all 10 wickets, and it was no surprise to see Moeen Ali and Rashid bowling 28 of the 52 overs in India’s reply.

Off-spinner Moeen gave England a lone success before tea, turning one through the gate to bowl KL Rahul as he tried to drive, before a wicketless evening session.

Stokes’ dismissal four overs into the day, via DRS, was controversial in process but not outcome.

He was initially given not out caught at slip, but video and associated technology appeared to demonstrate his bat hitting ball as well as ground before a deflection off the wicketkeeper to the catcher after Ashwin found sharp turn.

Stokes was incredulous as he walked off, but did not let his reaction stray into ill-discipline this time.

The complicating factor was that the scheduled official was not available for third-umpire duties.

Chris Woakes spared the third umpire when he gave himself out, caught behind on the front-foot defence off Jadeja from a thin edge on another one that turned from a danger area.

Rashid then went for the first singlefigure score of the innings, playing no shot to a Jadeja arm ball which flicked the off bail.

But Ball helped Buttler pass 50, which was enough to convince Kohli to at last take the second new ball, after 121 overs, to no immediate avail as England extended their first innings into a fifth session – in which Ball edged Ashwin behind on the back foot, and then Buttler was last out after he went up the pitch in search of his second six but was bowled by Jadeja.

By then he appeared to have put England in a position of great promise, but Vijay and Pujara were lying in wait to provide the latest reality check of what has been a tough tour to date for Alastair Cook’s team.