Debutant tom hartley

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium: Ben Stokes hit the accelerator while batting with the tail to take England past 200 even as India continued to pick wickets in a superb second session on day one of the first Test at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday.

At tea, England were on 215/8 in 59 overs with Stokes not out on 43 and Mark Wood giving him company on seven. England scored 108 runs in the second session but lost five wickets, four of which were taken by Indian spinners.

In the start of the session, Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root took their fourth wicket partnership to 61 runs before the former was dismissed by a near-unplayable delivery from left-arm spinner Axar Patel.