India reach 173-1 against England (Lunch report)

Chennai, Dec 18 (IANS) India reached 173 for one in their first innings at lunch on the third day of the fifth and final cricket Test at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Sunday.

Resuming the day at 60-0, Lokesh Rahul (89 not out) and wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel (71), scored impressive fifties as the hosts gave a perfect reply to England's handsome first innings total of 477 all out.

Rahul, who was moving towards his fourth Test hundred, was unbeaten along with Cheteshwar Pujara (11 not out) when the umpires called for the close of the first session of the day.

Rahul and Parthiv made their intentions clear from the beginning, as Parthiv drove brilliantly towards mid-on off a delivery from pacer Stuart Broad in just the second over of the day.

Then, it was Rahul who hammered two sixes -- both over long-on -- in the third and fifth over bowled by left-arm spinner Liam Dawson. Broad too was at the receiving end of the punishment from Rahul and Parthiv.

As the duo reached their 100-run stand with smooth batting display, the runs came at a steady clip.

Parthiv, who scored his sixth fifty in Test cricket, hit seven boundries during his 71-run knock that ended when the left-hander top-edged a spinning delivery from Moeen Ali to Jos Buttler at cover.

Rahul, who registered his second half-century in his young Test career, had eight fours and two sixes.

--IANS

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