Live Cricket Score, India vs England 4th Test Day 2: India take on England on the second day of the fourth Test on Friday (Source: AP)

After a splendid performance with the ball on the opening day, England will look to make most of the start and gain a healthy lead over India. (Full Coverage: India tour of England) (Stats: Dhoni creates rare record)

LIVE SCORECARD: India vs England

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Brief preview

11:30 am to 12:00 pm: Umbrellas in the stands, delayed start, cloudy skies, moist outfield, floodlights switched on, hazy red cherry, pacy pitch, ball swinging. India 8/4.

06:30 pm to 07:00 pm: Straw hats in stands, play extended, clear blue sky, bone-dry outfield, fire ball over the head, perfect visibility, true pitch, ball not spinning. England 113/3.

It’s only in England these starkly different conditions can co-exist in a single day’s play. As it turned out, the home team got the best of both worlds. They had the ball in hand when the conditions helped the bowlers and wielded the bat with the sun shining on their backs. India, though, can’t curse the weather for their misery. MS Dhoni had trusted his batsmen to negotiate the tough early morning conditions and make hay when the temperature rose.

They failed miserably.

This meant dark clouds remained over India even when the sun shone brightly as stumps were drawn. The visitors failed to recover from the early morning collapse. Replying to India’s 152 in 46.4 overs, England, despite losing Gary Ballance in the final over of the day, were placed comfortably.

They did trail by 39 runs but with 7 wickets in hand, they were in control. What made England the very clear front runner in this Test was the unbeaten batsman Ian Bell who looks in the kind of touch that would give bowlers nightmares. The images of his trademark cut, late cut, pull and cover drive — the strokes he hit in his 45 today — might make sleeping difficult for India’s bowling unit.