Ashwin, Jadeja strike early blows for India (Lead Lunch)

Rajkot, Nov 9 (IANS) Indian spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja struck crucial blows as England posted 102/3 in their first innings at lunch on the opening day of the first cricket Test here on Wednesday.

Ashwin returned figures of 2-35 and Jadeja 1-26 as the visitors sufferred setbacks following a positive start.

For England, Joe Root was batting on a well-made 35 off 50 deliveries when the teams went in for lunch.

Electing to bat on winning the toss, England were off to a steady start with the opening duo of captain Alistair Cook and debutant Haseeb Hameed batting cautiously.

Cook was lucky to survive in the first over when he edged a Mohammed Shami delivery to the slips only to see Ajinkya Rahane drop a relatively easy chance.

Jadeja struck the first blow for India, trapping Cook lbw with a delivery that turned into the England skipper's pads after pitching. Cook attempted a flick but could not make contact as Jadeja appealed successfullly for the decision.

The 19-year-old Hameed, the youngest opener to debut for England, hit six boundaries during his 82-ball 31 before being trapped leg before after misjudging the turn of an Ashwin delivery.

Brief scores:

England (First Innings): 102/3 (Joe Root 35 batting, Haseeb Hameed 31; Ravichandran Ashwin 2-35, Ravindra Jadeja 1-26) vs India

--IANS

ajb/vt