Under-fire captain Alastair Cook made a courageous 95 and Gary Ballance struck a fine century to put England in control at 247 for two on the first day of the third test against India earler yesterday.
Ballance was unbeaten on 104 at the close and beleaguered captain Cook survived a dropped catch to silence his critics with a battling knock after making a brave decision to bat first.
Ian Bell (16 not out) and Ballance safely negotiated the second new ball and the pair will resume on Monday when England will bid to post a large total as they bid to level the five-match series.
