Dawson, Rashid frustrate India as England reach 452-8 (Tea report)

Adil Rashid (60) and Liam Dawson (55 not out) frustrated India with an 108-run eight-wicket stand as England reached a healthy 452 for eight in their first innings till the tea session on the second day of the fifth and final cricket Test here on Saturday.

Dawson and Rashid, resuming play at 352 for seven with individual scores of 27 and eight respectively, batted with grit and resoluteness to keep India at bay for the major part of the second session as they went on to score first and second Test fifties respectively.

Their 108-run partnership was the second highest for the eighth wicket at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium.

After Rashid's dismissal, Dawson was joined by Stuart Broad in the middle and the latter was unbeaten on a quick 17 runs, as the tea was called.

England, who had lost three wickets in the morning session scoring 68 runs, were in great need for a big partnership.

Dawson and Rashid built up their stand by blocking the deliveries, especially when Ashwin was operating along with an in-rhythm paceman Ishant Sharma. Once the duo spent ome time, they scored runs in ones and twos, mixing it with occasional boundries.

They were aided by the lack of accuracy from India's third spinner, Amit Mishra. The Haryana leg-spinner, coming into the team after the first Test played in Rajkot from November 9 to 13, struggled with his line and length.

After playing him confidently, the English duo also fared well against the other two spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Jadeja.

While Rashid's knock included eight hits to the fence from 155 deliveries, Dawson's innings featured boundries from 131 deliveries, as England moved towards to a healthy total.

Brief scores: England first innings 452/8 (Adil Rashid 60, Liam Dawson 55 not out; Umesh Yadav 2-73) vs India at tea on second day.

--IANS

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