Gill’s fighting ton gives India the edge on England

Tourists close first day of the second Test on 310 for five

- RORY DOLLARD

England experienced another taxing first day against India as Shubman Gill’s century built firm foundations for the tourists in the second Rothesay Test at Edgbaston. Buoyed by his side’s fearless fourth-innings chase at Headingley last week, home captain Ben Stokes did not hesitate to repeat his tactics from that match - winning the toss and sending the opposition in on a good batting pitch.

The initial outcome was better this time - India reaching stumps on 310 for five compared to their seemingly bulletproof score of 359 for three at the same point in Leeds - but Stokes’s opposite number ensured India edged the day. Gill, who made 147 in the series opener, made it two hundreds in as many games as captain with a hard-working and undefeated 114 from 216 balls.

Chris Woakes was the pick of the bowlers on home turf, and deserved better than figures of two wickets for 59 runs, but England may need to battle back from another difficult position after Gill’s unbeaten stand of 99 with Ravindra Jadeja.

India began by confirming they had rested star bowler Jasprit Bumrah - one of three changes to a losing team - but Stokes resisted the temptation to get stuck into an attack shorn of its most potent force.