Summary Jake Ball escaped a dropped catch by Kohli on zero runs before sitting on an unbeaten 29.
MUMBAI (AFP) - Jos Buttler served up a cool half century in the India heat on Friday to guide England to 385-8 at lunch in the crunch fourth Test in Mumbai.
The right-handed batsman started the day on 18 and neatly played his way to 64 by the break as a trio of English wickets fell around him.
England began the session on 288-5 but Ben Stokes was soon to walk after India successfully appealed a not out decision.
The left-hander was dismissed for 31 when the TV umpire ruled that the ball had nicked his bat before dropping into the hands of Virat Kohli.
Stokes looked unhappy though, believing that the noise picked up by the Decision Review System’s (DRS) ‘snicko’ technology -- a high-audio microphone -- had been that of his bat hitting the ground.
It marked spin demon Ravichandran Ashwin’s fifth scalp of the innings but it was fellow spinner Ravindra Jadeja who did the most damage to England’s order in the morning session.
Jadeja grabbed the wickets of Chris Woakes (11), who was caught behind by wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel, and Adil Rashid.
Rashid made only four runs before misjudging and leaving a straight delivery from Jadeja, only for it to knock off the off bail.
Jake Ball escaped a dropped catch by Kohli on zero runs before sitting on an unbeaten 29.
England trail 2-0 in the series and must win to keep the contest alive.
