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Home  » Cricket » PHOTOS: Root and Moeen put England on top on Day 1

PHOTOS: Root and Moeen put England on top on Day 1

Last updated on: November 09, 2016 17:20 IST
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Images from Day 1 of the opening Test between India and England in Rajkot on Wednesday:

- Scorecard

IMAGE: Joe Root, left, with Moeen Ali on Day 1 of the first Test in Rajkot. Photograph: BCCI

England's Joe Root hit a sparkling century and Moeen Ali was unbeaten on 99 as the tourists finished the opening day of the first Test against India in a strong position on 311-4, in Rajkot, on Wednesday.

Root was out for 124 after putting on 179 for the fourth wicket with left-hander Moeen after England were 102-3 at lunch.

Joe Root

IMAGE: Joe Root celebrates after completing his century. Photograph: BCCI

Moeen was one run short of his fourth Test hundred at the close on Wednesday with Ben Stokes unbeaten on 19.

England captain Alastair Cook won the toss and had no hesitation in batting first on a Rajkot pitch he regarded as a traditional Indian wicket that would assist the slower bowlers as the game progressed.

Moeen Ali

IMAGE: Moeen Ali bats on Day 1 of the first Test in Rajkot. Photograph: BCCI

A nervy Cook lived a charmed life against India's new-ball pace duo of Mohammed Shami and Umesh Yadav when the left-hander was dropped twice in the first two overs behind the wicket.

The opener seemed to have overcome his jittery start and moved to 21 by the end of the first hour's play before he was adjudged out leg before wicket to spinner Ravindra Jadeja.

IMAGE: Ravichandran Ashwin celebrates the wicket of Haseeb Hameed. Photograph: BCCI

Cook was unfortunate to be given out off an incorrect decision from the umpire, with replays showing the ball missing leg stump, and his new opening partner Haseeb Hameed offered little assistance by advising against asking for a review.

It was the first time the Decision Review System (DRS) was being used for a bilateral series in India and England erred a second time when they eventually opted to use the technology.

IMAGE: India's players celebrate the wicket of Alastair Cook. Photograph: BCCI

The 19-year-old Hameed, who became England's youngest opener on his debut, wasted one of the two reviews available to his team when he failed to overturn a leg before decision off Ravichandran Ashwin after compiling a composed knock of 31.

Ben Duckett, who opened for England in last month's series in Bangladesh, was pushed down the order to accommodate Hameed and made a brisk start by hitting Ashwin for three boundaries in four balls.

But India's spearhead gained revenge in his next over when Ajinkya Rahane stooped to complete a smart low catch at slip to send Duckett back to the pavilion for 13 and bring the players in for lunch.

Haseeb Hameed

IMAGE: Haseeb Hameed bats on Day 1. Photograph: BCCI

The 25-year-old Root hit 11 boundaries and a six in his 180-ball knock and looked largely untroubled until Yadav struck his pad in the penultimate over before tea with the batsman on 92.

India captain Virat Kohli made his first use of DRS but failed to overturn the on-field not out decision after replays showed the ball was clipping the leg stump.

IMAGE: Ajinkya Rahane takes the catch to dismiss Ben Duckett off Ravichandran Ashwin's bowling. Photograph: BCCI

Root, whose ton was his 11th in Tests and third against India, was finally out to Yadav though it needed confirmation from the television umpire after the paceman seemed to have lost control of the ball while celebrating the return catch.

Moeen provided good support and hit nine fours in his unbeaten knock in the first test of the five-match series.

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