Jonny Bairstow’s composed 89 helped England survive some poor top order shot-making and reach 268 for eight at the close on the first day of the third test against India on Saturday.
Alastair Cook won an important toss but the tourists conceded much of the advantage and would have been in deeper trouble but for India’s poor catching and Bairstow’s dogged resistance.
The keeper-batsman featured in 50-plus partnerships with Ben Stokes and the recalled Jos Buttler to revive England, who are 1-0 down in the five-match series.
Adil Rashid was batting on four at stumps with Gareth Batty, replacing the injured Zafar Ansari, yet to open his account.
“We were obviously, after winning the toss, disappointed at losing those wickets, especially early,” Bairstow told reporters.
“We’re fighting, we are in the battle. It can go up to 290-300,” he said about a possible first-innings total.
Wary of batting fourth on a spinning track, Cook asked the hosts to bowl but his top order were unable to vindicate the decision at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium.
Paceman Umesh Yadav drew first blood when he got Haseeb Hameed caught for nine at gully with a delivery that kicked up off a length.
Home captain Virat Kohli introduced spin in the 13th over and Jayant Yadav responded by dismissing Joe Root for 15 in his second over.
England’s batting mainstay fluffed a pull shot across the line and was trapped leg-before to a perfectly innocuous delivery from the off-spinner.
Cook, meanwhile, led a charmed life with Ravindra Jadeja failing to pouch an edge and Ravichandran Ashwin spilling a sitter. Mohammed Shami was the luckless bowler on both occasions.’
