Jos Buttler magnificent innings of 89 runs helped England gain the upper hand on Day 2 of the fifth Test against India at the Oval on Saturday.
The day started off with both the overnight batsman batting steadily, before Jasprit Bumrah broke the stand by getting of Adil Rashid leg before wicket for 15 runs.
Buttler and Stuart Broad frustrated the visitors by adding 98 runs for the ninth wicket to help the home side reach a competitive total of 332 runs, after being precariously placed at 198/7 at one stage.
India’s innings started disastrously, as they lost Shikhar Dhawan leg before wicket for 3 runs to Broad.
KL Rahul and Cheteshwar Pujara consolidated and added 64 runs for the second wicket before Sam Curran produced a beauty to get rid of 26 year old Karnataka batsman bowled for 37 runs.
Pujara was given a life on 10, when Cook put down a catch at forward short leg off Moeen Ali.
Thew visitors failed to capitalise on the good start as they lost 3 wickets for 33 runs as Anderson with the moving ball came into the attack and dismissed both Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane in quick succession.
Indian skipper Virat Kohli who looked fluent in his innings of 49 runs, edged a drive on the up off Stokes to Root at second slip.
Debutant Hanuma Vihari intially looked out of sorts against Stuart Broad regained his composure and batted till the end of day 2. Giving him company was Ravindra Jadeja who was not out on 8 runs.
The 20 year old wicket keeper batsman Rishabh Pant failed to cash in on the opportunity edging a Stokes delivery to Alastair Cook, leaving India struggling at 174 for six a deficit of 158 runs at Stumps.
England (332 all out) at stumps on Day 2- (Jos Buttler 89) Ishant Sharma 3/62.
India (174/6)- (Virat Kohli 49) James Anderson 2/20.