Mumbai: Skipper Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen put up an unbeaten 110 runs in 186 balls to guide England to a comfortable 178-2 at stumps on the second day of the second Test here at the Wankhede Stadium here today.

After dismissing India for 327 in the first innings, England now trail only by 149 runs.

Cook scored 87 off 209 balls hitting 10 boundaries and a six, while Pietersen was batting on 62 in his 85-ball innings laced with nine fours.

Cook who scored a mammoth century in the second innings of the first Test looked particularly at ease against the Indian bowling, while Pietersen who flopped in the first match was in his usual self and hit his shots all around the park.

The Indian bowlers looked confused against the resolute pair of Cook and Pietersen. They never looked in any sort of trouble against Indian bowling attack.

Cook who showed immaculate technique in the first match, continued his good run and led by an example that right application can help batters counter quality spin attack.

While Pietersen avoided the mistake he did in the opening match and started with caution. He took some to settle but once he set his eyes his, the right handed batsman started to open up. He looked exquisite with his strokes and played pure cricketing shots.

Earlier, English spin duo of Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann trapped India in their spin trap as the hosts could add only 61 runs to their overnight score.

India starting the day at 266-5 with overnight batsmen Pujara on 114 and Ashwin playing on 60 started cautiously.

Panesar got the first break-through of the day after a quick delivery from him caught Ashwin plumb in front of the stumps. It was Panesar’s fifth wicket of the innings.

Ashwin was out for 68 laced with nine boundaries.

In came Harbhajan Singh and he entertained with lusty hitting before falling leg before to Graeme Swann for his 200th Test wicket.

He scored 21 off 35 balls including two four and a six.

Swann then was finally to get the wicket of Cheteswar Pujara who has been dismissed for the first time in three innings. He scored 135 and his mammoth 350-ball innings was laced with 12 well struck boundaries.

Zaheer Khan was the last man to fall after Jonathan Bairstow caught him at short leg of Swann’s bowling.

Panesar returned with figures of 5-129, while Swann took 4-70.

By Indian Sports News Network