Dharamshala, Mar 7: After bundling out England for 218 in their first innings, hosts India were 135/1 in 30 overs at stumps on Day 1 of the Fifth and Final Test at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) Stadium, here on Thursday.
India lost in-form opener Yashasvi Jaiswal towards the end of Day 1. But not before, the flamboyant southpaw slammed run-a-ball 57 in just 58 balls. He hammered 5 boundaries and 3 massive sixes.
But he was stumped by English keeper Ben Foakes trying for a big hit against spinner Shoaib Bashir.
Team India skipper Rohit Sharma was unbeaten on 52 in 83 balls and Shubman Gill was not out on 26, when umpires announced stumps for Day 1.
Earlier electing to bat first, England were all out for 218 in 57.4 overs in their first innings, unable to counter Indian spinners.
Putting all speculations to rest about the possible behaviour of the HPCA pitch on overcast conditions and cool weather, Indian spinners continued to rule the roost over English batters. They did not allow the visitors to build big partnerships and snapped wickets regularly.
Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav was the wrecker-in-chief with a five wicket haul. He topped the bowling chart with an enviable bowling figure of 5/72 in 15 overs.
Playing his 100th Test Ravichandran Ashwin scalped four wickets (4/51), while his years-long spin-twin Ravindra Jadeja too tested a lone success (1/17).
The only England batter to have put on a fight and managed a 50-plus score was opener Zak Crawley, who slammed 79 runs in 108 balls, with 11 boundaries and a six.
As Indian spinners dictated terms, the visitors continued to lose wickets at regular intervals.
England lost opener Ben Duckett (27), Ollie Pope (11), Joe Root (27), 100th Test-man Jonny Bairstow (29), skipper Ben Stokes (0), Tom Hartley (6), Mark Wood (0), Ben Foakes (24) and James Anderson (0) cheaply.
The final Test, here is extra special for India's ace off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and England's senior wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow. Because both the old warhorses are playing the 100th Test matches of their glorious careers.
India have already clinched the five-match Test series 3-1.
Brief Scores:
England First Innings: 218/10 in 57.4 overs.
India First Innings: 135/1 in 30 overs.
Match to Continue.
