England take control after marvellous Moeen and Stokes add to Root century

SPARE a thought for Moeen Ali. In a series where spinning conditions are expected to make him England’s key all-rounder, he was still upstaged on the second day of this match by Ben Stokes despite scoring his first overseas Test hundred.

- Chris Stocks

Stokes spent almost five hours at the crease in compiling a brilliant, if sometimes scratchy, 128.

It was the third century of England’s innings, the first time they had achieved that feat in Asia since the 1961 Kanpur Test against India, as Alastair Cook’s side took full advantage of winning the toss to post an imposing first-innings 537.

India, who reached stumps on 63 without loss, will feel they are still in this game.

In truth, though, they are up against it after Stokes rammed home England’s advantage with his first Test century since that spell-binding double-hundred against South Africa at Cape Town in January.

Moeen, on 99 overnight, and Joe Root, who had struck a fine 124 on the opening day, were the other two centurions.

However, as is so often the case, it was the individual brilliance of Stokes that dominated this second day.

England had started it in the promising position of 311-4.

Moeen took just three balls to post his fourth Test hundred and alongside Stokes, who had begun the day on 19, the fifth-wicket pair set about India’s bowlers to add 28 runs from the first five overs of the day.

Moeen, on 117, then fell after inexplicably leaving a length ball from Mohammed Shami that clattered into his off-stump.

With England now on 343-5, it proved Stokes’ cue to take centre stage.

A 99-run stand with Jonny Bairstow, with whom he had put on 399 for England’s sixth wicket in that Cape Town Test at the beginning of the year, damaged India’s morale further.