RAJKOT, India (AP) Joe Root and Moeen Ali combined in an unbeaten 107-run partnership to guide England to 209-3 at tea Wednesday, the opening day of the five-test series in India.
Root was unbeaten on 93 and Ali was on 48 not out at the interval, with England adding 107 from 31 overs in the middle session on day one.
Ali had an early reprieve when his prod off Ravi Ashwin (2-60) fell just short of the short leg fielder.
But that was the only opportunity the fourth-wicket pair offered India, raising their 50-partnership off 87 balls and the 100 stand from 172 deliveries.
Root's 24th test half-century included nine boundaries and came off 72 balls.
India had a setback in the 61st over when paceman Mohammed Shami (0-28) walked off with a hamstring injury. Two overs later, Umesh Yadav (0-41) hit Root on the pads, but umpire Kumar Dharmasena turned down his appeal for lwb.
India made first use of their DRS appeals but the decision stood in the batsman's favor.
England made a bright start to the innings before losing three wickets for 55 in the first session.
Skipper Alastair Cook and Haseeb Hameed, the 19-year-old opener making his test debut, putting on 47 for the first wicket after both survived dropped catches from India's fielders.
Cook ran out of luck when he was trapped lbw on 21 by Ravindra Jadeja. Hammed hit six boundaries on his way to 31 before Ravi Ashwin trapped him lbw.
Ashwin captured his second wicket on the last delivery before lunch when Ben Duckett departed for 13, caught by a diving Ajinkya Rahane at slip.
