England v India - Fourth Specsavers Test match | Richard Mann's day two report

Ali's figures 16-1-63-5 capped a brilliant recall to England colours for the Worcestershire man as he ripped through India's fragile middle order to put his side firmly in control before Pujara wrestled back the initiative late on another absorbing day of Test cricket in Southampton.

In a series that continues to give, India slumped from a seemingly commanding position of 142-2 to 195-8 in reply to England's apparent under-par first innings 246 but Pujara, fresh from 72 at Trent Bridge, hauled his side back into the contest and then into a slender lead before England's openers survived four overs late in the day.

The hosts began the day on the back foot with India resuming on 19-0 and the overnight score had reached 37 before Stuart Broad managed to nip one back through the defences of KL Rahul (19) who would then burn a review when desperately trying overturn Kumar Dharmasena's lbw decision.

37-1 was soon 50-2 when Broad forced Dhawan (23) to push hard at a length delivery and edge into the safe hands of Jos Buttler behind the stumps.

Virat Kohli and Pujara then came together and despite the Indian captain looking less assured than of late, he went passed 6000 Test runs as the pair took India to Lunch at 100-2.

Ali's introduction before Lunch gave a hint at what was to come as he found good drift and plenty of turn in his one over before the break.

Nevertheless, India made serene progress upon the resumption and looked on course to amass a huge total until Kohli pushed at Sam Curran from over the wicket and saw the resulting outside edge well caught by Alastair Cook at first slip, four short of his half-century.

Pujara did reach his fifty - from exactly 100 balls - but saw Ajinkya Rahane (11) dismissed cheaply as his old foe, Ben Stokes, pinned him lbw with a big inswinger.

India survived another ten overs without any further casualties but when Ali returned to the attack, he ended Ribaash Pant's tortured stay when sliding one on and trapping the youngster lbw for a 29-ball duck.

India would still have been hopeful of claiming a sizeable first-innings lead when going to Tea on 181-5, only 65 behind, but Ali quickly put paid to those plans by dismissing Hardik Pandya before he bowled Ravi Ashwin and Mohammed Shami in successive balls.

Ishant survived the hat-trick ball and added a valuable 14 as he and Pujara, who was now beginning to assert himself with some fabulous attacking strokes, began to reduce India's deficit.

That pair added 32 until Ishant became Ali's fifth victim - caught by Cook at short-leg - before Jasprit Bumrah frustrated England further with some dogged defence as he and Pujara took the score to 273 and handed India a valuable 27-run lead.

Bumrah only contributed six in that partnership of 46 which was lit up by Pujara registering a first Test match hundred on these shores.

Having shown admirable patience and solid defence in the early stages of his innings, Pujara showcased his impressive attacking play - coupled with wonderful manipulation of the strike - as he guided the tail with a mixture of smart running and some strong striking.

Pujara used his feet supremely well and hit Ali over mid-off and cow corner while pulling and cutting the seamers when they looked to bowl short and cut off his scoring options.

It truth, his unbeaten 132 was a batting masterclass, different to the ones Kohli has treated us to so far in the series but one that could prove even more important if India can force victory here and level this enthralling series.

Thanks to Ali's heroics with the ball, the hosts will be hopeful they can set India a daunting chase on a surface that is already showing signs of indifferent bounce and will only assist the spinners further as the game goes on.

With four overs to bat, England escaped unscathed at 6-0 but Ashwin showed enough in his two overs in the setting sun to show how much of a threat he will be on day three, just as fellow off-spinner Ali was 24 hours previously.

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