Indian top order blown away by England pacers

London, Aug 15: England pacers, including a fit-again Stuart Broad, put on a spirited performance to blow away the top Indian batting order and leave the visitors struggling at 43 for five in the first innings at lunch on the first day of the fifth and the final cricket Test at The Oval here Friday.

Put in, after a delayed start due to a heavy outfield, India found themselves at the receiving end of the fury of English pacers as half the side was back in the pavilion for 36 runs in the 19th over.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni was batting on six and giving him company was Stuart Binny on four when lunch was called. Murali Vijay was the top scorer of the session with 18 runs.

It was a torrid session for the Indian batsmen as they were done in by swing the England bowlers got under overcast conditions.

James Anderson removed Gautam Gambhir in the first over of the day for a duck. Gambhir decided against playing the delivery at the last moment but the ball kissed the hanging, open face and sailed through to wicket-keeper Jos Butler.

Broad, who appeared in no discomfort playing with a broken nose, struck in the next over to get rid of Cheteshwar Pujara (4) as the ball sneaked through the gap between bat and pad and clipped the top flap of his pad and kissed his arm before rattling the timber. 

Chris Jordan struck in his successive overs to remove Virat Kohli (6) and Ajinkya Rahane to leave India at 28 for four. 

Murali Vijay finally ran out of patience in the 19th over and fell to Chris Woakes after Joe Root took a good juggling catch at gully.