PHOTOS: England, India finely poised after Ballance ton

England's Gary Ballance scored his second Test century as the second Test against India sat evenly-poised following a sweltering day's play at Lord's on Friday.

Having dismissed the visitors for 295 on a pitch that appears to be getting easier to bat on, England put up 219 for six at close on Day 2.

Liam Plunkett (4) and Matt Prior (2) will look to reach India's total on Saturday should the predicted poor weather hold off, while the visitors will be desperate to take a lead into their second innings.

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Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the pick of the Indian bowlers, getting rid of captain Alastair Cook and Sam Robson before lunch and Ian Bell after the break.

The hosts also lost Joe Root before Ballance and Moeen Ali, two of England's success stories in what has been a tough period after series defeats by Australia and Sri Lanka, combined to good effect.

While others in England's order struggled, Zimbabwe-born Ballance continues to prosper at number three, scoring two centuries and two half-centuries in his last five turns at the crease.

He hit 15 boundaries in total, reaching three figures off 186 balls when he flicked Stuart Binny through the on-side.

He fell shortly after the new ball was taken, well caught down the leg side by Mahendra Singh Dhoni to become Bhuvnehwar's fourth victim.

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Bhuvneshwar had rocked England early, dismissing Cook (10) in the 11th over of the innings.

England’s captain dabbed at one outside the off-stump from Bhuvneshwar without moving his feet and wicketkeeper Dhoni took the catch easily.

Till then Cook had shown great discipline in leaving the away-going deliveries from pacers Bhuvneshwar and Mohammad Shami, but a slight mistake cost him dear.

The left-hander has now gone nine innings without a half-century, since scoring 51 against Australia in Melbourne last December.

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England were in further trouble when Bhuvneshwar dismissed the other opener, Robson (17).

Bowling the eighth over of his first spell, the pacer forced Robson into playing a loose shot outside the off-stump and edge the ball, which was well-taken by Dhoni.

England were 31 for 2 in 15 overs, with both openers back in the dressing room.

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England were three down when Bhuvneshwar dismissed Bell (16) for his third straight scalp.

The right-hand England batsman was again out while trying to leave the ball.

Bhuvneshwar’s short delivery outside the off-stump saw Bell offer no stroke, but the ball hit his gloves and popped to Ravindra Jadeja, who made no mistake.

England were reduced to 70 for 3 in the 32nd over.

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Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja was introduced into the attack in the 45th over of the innings, replacing Shami. He had a good start, conceding just a single, and followed up that showing with the key wicket of Joe Root, who scored a century in the first Test.

The right-hander was trapped leg before wicket for 13 as England slipped to 113 for four in the 47th over.

Hot Spot, though, shows that there could have been an inside edge before the ball hit the pads as Root came forward to defend.

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Earlier, Ishant Sharma (12 not out) and Shami (19) added just five runs to India’s overnight score of 290 for 9 off ten balls.

The innings ended when the latter was caught at first slip by Cook off Ben Stokes (2-40) in the second over of the day and the 92nd of the innings.

It was Cook’s 100th catch in Test cricket.

James Anderson had innings figures of 4 for 60, while Stuart Broad returned 2 for 79. Liam Plunkett picked 1 for 51) and Moeen Ali 1 for 38.