Karun Nair plays career-saving knock as India make 204/6 on Day 1

RAIN HALTED PROCEEDINGS TWICE

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LONDON: Karun Nair made a potential career-saving half-century on a green top even as the other batters faltered to leave India on 204 for six at stumps on a rain-hit opening day of the series-deciding fifth Test against England here on Thursday.

Coming back into the side after being dropped for the fourth Test, Nair (52 batting off 98 balls) delivered under pressure and in testing conditions with the ball seaming around through the day. He was batting alongside Washington Sundar (19 batting off 45) at close of play.

Rain halted proceedings twice but still 64 overs were accommodated through an extended evening session that lasted till 7.30 pm local time.

The visitors lost three wickets in the third session including the well-set Sai Sudharsan (38 off 108) and the in-form Ravindra Jadeja (9 off 13), as both could not do much about the balls from Josh Tongue that seamed away to take the outside edge.