RAJKOT, FEBRUARY 16

Undaunted by India's 445 all out, England opener Ben Duckett smashed an undefeated 133 to leave the tourists on 207-2 at stumps on Day 2 of the third cricket test, which saw Ravichandran Ashwin become only the second Indian bowler to reach 500 test wickets.

England still trails India by 238 runs.

Ashwin (1-37) followed compatriot Anil Kumble (619 wickets) as the spinner took his landmark wicket in the final session Friday.

He had Zak Crawley (15) caught at fine leg and became the second quickest bowler to reach the milestone in 98 tests. Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan is the fastest to 500 wickets in 87 tests. Kumble had reached it in 105 tests.

'It has been a long journey, and I would like to dedicate this feat to my father,' Ashwin said after the day's play in Rajkot. 'He has been with me through thick and thin, probably had a heart attack every time he has watched me play.'

Duckett needed only 88 balls for his third test century for England, and his 118-delivery innings so far included two sixes and 21 fours with England scoring at an average of almost six runs an over, compared to 3.40 for India's innings.

'England are showing a lot of intent, and playing like they would in an ODI or T20 game. The game is in balance and they are putting us under pressure,' Ashwin said.

Duckett's knock was the quickest hundred by an English batter against India, beating Graham Gooch's 95-ball century in 1990. He became the first visiting batter to score 100-plus runs within a test session on Indian soil.

Joe Root (9 not out) is also at the crease.

Ollie Pope (39) was the other English batter out, trapped leg before by Mohammed Siraj (1-54).

Earlier Friday, resuming its first innings on 326-5, India lost Kuldeep Yadav in the fourth over of the morning, caught behind off James Anderson for four.

The bigger blow came six balls later - century-maker Ravindra Jadeja offered a simple return catch to Root.

Jadeja was out for 112 runs, adding only two more runs to his total on the first day. Overall, he had faced 225 deliveries and hit nine fours as well as a six for his second test hundred at his home ground.

After the drinks' break, Ashwin was penalized by umpire Joel Wilson for running onto the danger area of the pitch, and England was awarded five penalty runs. That meant it started its first innings from 5-0.

India reached lunch at 388-7 at lunch, thanks to a 57-run partnership between Ashwin and Dhruv Jurel for the eighth wicket. Post lunch, Jurel survived two dropped catches as he made his way to 46 runs. It was the third highest score for an Indian keeper-batter on test debut.

He was eventually caught behind off Rehan Ahmed, who finished with 2-85.

Overall, Ashwin-Jurel added 77 runs. Jasprit Bumrah scored 26 and frustrated the visitors with a final 30-run partnership with Siraj.

India's innings ended just before tea as Mark Wood dismissed Bumrah lbw to finish with 4-114.

On Thursday's opening day, centuries by Rohit Sharma and Jadeja helped India reach 326-5 after the home side won the toss and after a poor start. India was 33-3 but Sharma and Jadeja rebuilt the innings with a 204-run stand.

The five-match series is level at 1-1. India won the second test by 106 runs after England beat the hosts by 28 runs in the opener.