Stokes, Bairstow punish sloppy India after Moeen ton

He scored 124 runs, which included 17 boundaries and at a strike-rate of 60.19.

With opener Vijay for company, who was also close to reaching his own century, Pujara not out after hitting 15 fours in 166 balls at tea stitched a fighting 160-run stand to pilot the home team to an impressive 228 for one at the end of the second session.

“Today was flawless. I know he chanced his arm a little bit but when you play with that freedom and fearless approach you’ll get away with it a lot more”.

England’s total was the highest by a visiting team in India since the West Indies made 590 at Mumbai in November 2011.

“I try now to have the mindset of a top-order batsman [while batting at No5]”, said Moeen, who scored his fourth Test century and third in 2016.

Then began complete domination of England bowlers as Pujara cut and drove the spinners to keep the scoreboard moving with over three runs per over.

# Murali Vijay’s splendid seventh century (126) in Tests is his second against England.

England’s plan was to restrict India from scoring freely after they resumed on 63-0, replying to the touring side’s 537.

16 consecutive innings for Vijay without any hundred before this.

# Before his above century, his last three-figure innings was 150 versus Bangladesh at Fatullah in June 2015 followed by 16 consecutive innings without a century. Also, twice in those 16 innings, he got out in 40s.

England started the second day well with both Moeen Ali and Ben Stokes getting off to good starts with the former taking jut three ball to get to triple digits.

Seamers Stuart Broad, who is playing his 100th Test, shared the new ball with Chris Woakes but couldn’t get the breakthrough. But after that it was a day when two Indian Test specialists showed their class.

This brought together England’s ginger wrecking crew of Stokes and Jonny Bairstow with the pair putting on 99 runs at 4.67 runs per over.

Four sixes by Vijay – joint most by an Indian openers in a Test innings.

The stylish left-hander, on 99 overnight, hit 13 boundaries during his near five-hour stay at the crease before being bowled by Mohammed Shami (2-51).

Pujara then joined Vijay and the duo ensured that the hosts lost no more wickets and at lunch had compiled an unbeaten partnership of 94 runs.

The two batsmen complemented each other nicely – a trait evident from their massive record-setting partnership of 370 for the second wicket against Australia in the Hyderabad Test match three years ago.