England's Ollie Pope and Chris Woakes made a telling impact on their test return to earn the hosts a tidy first-innings lead in the fourth test against India.
Woakes was the pick of the English bowlers when they bowled out India for a below-par 191 in their first innings at the Oval on day one.
The all-rounder made an equally important contribution with the bat on day two, producing a counter-attacking 50 to temporarily put England ahead in the see-saw contest.
No.6 batsman Pope top-scored for the home side with a diligent 81 as England posted 290 in their reply.
India were 43 for no loss in their second innings at stumps, still 56 behind, after openers KL Rahul, batting on 22, and Rohit Sharma saw off the final 16 overs without being separated.
James Anderson did create an opportunity but Rory Burns at second slip misjudged an edge from Sharma, who was batting on 20.
Earlier, India seamer Umesh Yadav (3-76) struck twice after England resumed day two on 53-3.
Nightwatchman Craig Overton was the first to go and Dawid Malan, who made 31, followed suit after Sharma at second slip dived to his right to take a sharp catch.
The hosts looked in dire straits at 62-5 but Pope added 89 runs with Jonny Bairstow to prop up the English innings and 71 with Moeen Ali to steer them past India's disappointing total.
The Indian seamers, who had been bowling with a lot of discipline, suddenly took their foot off the pedal and boundaries started flowing.
Pope departed after dragging a Shardul Thakur delivery onto his stumps with England on the 250 mark and Woakes continued the good work in the company of the tailenders.
The all-rounder smashed 11 boundaries in his breezy knock before running himself out.
The five-test series is level at 1-1.
Reuters
