England have ended the first day of the third Test match with India on 268-8 after struggling against their hosts in Mohali.
After winning the toss, Alastair Cook would have had high hopes of posting a score which would leave their opponents having to play on the back foot after a dominant win in the second match of the best-of-five series.
However, despite an opening stand of 32, England lost wickets on a regular basis and they were reduced to 51-3 as Haseeb Hameed (9), Cook (27) and Joe Root (15) were all dismissed.
Moeen Ali soon followed for 16 before Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow combined to take England to 144 before Stokes fell for 29.
Jos Buttler scored 43 upon his recall to the side but it was Bairstow who kicked on as he hit 89 runs from 177 deliveries to keep his team competitive in the match.
Bairstow and Chris Woakes (25) went late on but while England will be relatively content with moving from 81-4 to 268-8, their poor start could leave them up against it when India respond on Sunday.
Darren Plant
