England 229/5 At Stumps On Day-1 Of 1st Test Against India

Andrew Strauss's 13th Test century held England together on the opening day of the series at Chennai.

Chennai: 13th Test hundred of Andrew Strauss and his century stand with Alastair Cook for the first wicket were the only bright spots as the visitors were 229/5 at stumps on the first day of the first Test against India at the M.A. Chidambaram stadium in Chennai.

Amit Mishra ended Strauss' brilliant innings to reduce England to 221/5 as the opener hit a flighted delivery back to Mishra who completed the return catch by moving to his left.

Paul Collingwood (9) was unfortunate to be given out as he went forward to play a defensive shot off Harbhajan Singh, the ball hit his pads and went to Gautam Gambhir at forward short leg, Indians appealed and Billy Bowden gave it out saying it hit the glove.

Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh took two wickets each. Zaheer Khan double struck after tea to take the wickets of England skipper Pietersen & Ian Bell. Earlier, opener Andrew Strauss hit a splendid ton to give England a solid start. Harbhajan Singh scalped English opener Alastair Cook to give India the first breakthrough in the post lunch session.

Earlier, England openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook made a sedate start after skipper Pietersen won the toss and elected to bat in the first Test match against India at Chennai.

Reports by Session
1st Session - Runs 63, Wkt 0, Overs 27
2nd Session - Runs 101, Wkt 1, Overs 30
3rd Session - Runs 65, Wkt 4, Overs 33

• Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook game a brilliant start to England, with the former going on to score a ton. India, however, fought back superbly in he final session, to finsih the upper hand.
• 191 wickets claimed by Zaheer Khan. He has now overtaken Erapalli Prasnna's tally of 189 in 49 Tests. He is the seventh highest wiecket taker for India. Top six are Anil Kumble, Kapil Dev, Harbhajan Singh, BS Bedi, B Chandrasekhar and Javagal Srinath.
• 13th century scored by Strauss. This is his second ton against India. In 2005-06 in Mumbai Test he had scored 128. He became the third English lef-hander to post two tons against Indians.
• 4th century stands for the first wicket recorded by Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook. All the hundred parternships have come in 2008 - two against SA and one against New Zealand.
  

Brief Score: England 1st Innings 229/5 (Strauss 123, Cook 52, Zaheer 2/36, 90 Ov) v India
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