Pathan strikes two quick blows as England struggle at 54 for 2

Mohali, Mar 9 (UNI) Irfan Pathan struck two quick blows as England struggled at 54 for two at lunch in the rain-delayed first day's play in the second Test against India at the PCA Stadium here today.

At lunch-break, Ian Bell and Kevin Pieterson were batting on 14 and four respectivley.

Earlier, England captain Andrew Flintoff won the toss and elected to bat on a track having no grass. With overcast sky assisting the seamers, Pathan (2 for 23) struck in the 11th over when he had Andrew Strauss caught behind by Mahendra Singh Dhoni when the England opener tried to cut, but only to get an inner edge. Strauss contributed 18 runs, with the help of one four in 46 minutes and 38 balls, with team total at 35.

Two overs later, Pathan removed Nagpur Test centurion Alastair Cook, who played forward to a delivery and was rapped on the front foot to be adjudged leg before wicket.

England were tottering at 36 for two when Cook was out.

India handed first Test caps to Munaf Patel and Piyush Chawla and left out VVS Laxman, Mohd Kaif and S Sreesanth, while including Yuvraj Singh in the playing side.

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