MUMBAI: Jos Buttler struck an unbeaten half-century to push England close to the 400-run mark in their first innings on the second morning of the fourth and penultimate test against India at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday.

The touring side, trailing 2-0 in the five-match series, reached 385 for eight at lunch. Buttler was unbeaten on 64 with Jake Ball 29 not out at the other end.

Resuming on 288 for five, England lost Ben Stokes for 31 in the third over of the day to off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who had picked up four wickets on Thursday.

It was the 23rd five-wicket haul for the world's top-ranked bowler in tests.

The umpire turned down the appeal for catch against Stokes but India managed to overturn the decision on review with the batsman leaving the field making his displeasure evident.

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja then dismissed Chris Woakes and Adil Rashid cheaply to boost India's chances of keeping England's total to under 350.

But Buttler and number 10 batsman Jake Ball, playing his first match of the series and second overall, put paid to India's hopes with an unbroken partnership of 51 for the ninth wicket.

Ball had not opened his scoring when India captain Virat Kohli dropped a sharp chance at slip off Jadeja.

India had a few close shouts for leg before in the session but could not challenge the umpire after having exhausted their one remaining review for an lbw against Buttler.

Right-handed Buttler repeatedly used the reverse sweep against Jadeja and has hit six boundaries in his knock so far.