England reach 97-0 in second innings (Lunch report)

England reached 97 for no loss in their second innings at lunch on the final day of the fifth and final cricket Test against India at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium here on Tuesday.

Resuming the day at 12/0 and trailing by 270 runs as India had posted a huge first innings total of 759/7 declared, English opening batsmen Alastair Cook (47) and Keaton Jennings (46) were at the crease when the first session of the day came to a close.

Even though the runs came very slowly for the visiting openers, they displayed strong mentality to defend against the Indian bowlers, who conceded 85 runs in the session. England are now 185 runs behind India.

Cook, who has faced 121 deliveries, scored four boundries during his 47-run unbeaten knock and Jennings' 46 runs came off 101 deliveries, with ix hits to the fence.

However, India had the opportunity to dismiss captain Cook early in the eighth over when the left-hander edged a delivery from off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin but wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel failed to pouch it.

Once they passed the difficult moments, they found it comparatively easy to score in the later overs.

Brief scores: England 477 all out and 97/0 (Alastair Cook 47 batting, Keaton Jennings 46 batting) vs India (First Innings) 759/7 declared.

--IANS

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