The Prague Post - Rahul and Pant build India lead against England

The visitors were 153-3 in their second innings, with Rahul 72 not out and Pant unbeaten on 31. The two batsmen have so far shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 61.

Captain Shubman Gill, a first-innings centurion, was the only batsman dismissed in the session.

India are in the driving seat with seven wickets in hand as they seek to win the first Test of the five-match series.

But they will be aware of their failures in the first innings to take a firm grip on the game.

Hundreds from Gill, Pant and Yashasvi Jaiswal put India on course for a total well in excess of 500 but they were dismissed for 471 after losing their last seven wickets for just 41 runs.

England mustered 465 in reply, with Ollie Pope making 106 and Harry Brook scoring 99.

The match was still in the balance as play resumed Monday, with India 90-2. Rahul was 47 not out and Gill, in his first match as India skipper, unbeaten on six.

The captain had added just two runs to his overnight score when he chopped on to fast bowler Brydon Carse.

Pant got off the mark in fortunate fashion when the aggressive left-hander almost swung himself off his feet as he charged at Chris Woakes and edged a wild slog over the slips for four.

He then advanced down the pitch to Woakes and this time hit a fierce drive straight down the ground.

Pant had another lucky escape when a top-edged slog sweep off Carse soared high, only for the ball to land short of fine leg and run away for four.

England then squandered a review for lbw when Pant attempted an audacious over-the-shoulder flick off Carse, only for replays to confirm he had inside-edged the ball onto his pads.

India's fourth-wicket pair offered a vivid contrast in styles, with orthodox right-handed opener Rahul completing a relatively sedate 87-ball fifty after his first-innings 42.

He was dropped by Brook at gully on 58 -- the latest missed chance by both sides during the match.

W.Urban--TPP