London, July 17 (IANS): India suffered a batting collapse, losing four wickets for 42 runs on a green top at the Lord's and were left struggling at 140 for six in the first innings at tea on the first day of the second cricket Test against England at Lord's here Thursday.
India lost both the openers Shikhar Dhawan (7) and Murali Vijay (24) early to reach 73 for two in their first session and then added another 67 runs by losing four wickets in the second session to reach 140 for six at tea. Ajinkya Rahane was batting on 26 and Stuart Binny six when tea was called.
Winning the toss, England captain Alastair Cook didn't blink an eyelid before asking India to bat on a surface that was tailor-made to benefit the English bowlers.
The ball swung right from the word go troubling Dhawan and Vijay. Pacer James Anderson got two wickets while Stuart Broad, Liam Plunkett, Ben Stokes and Moeen Ali got wicket apiece.
Anderson, who is staring at a two-match ban for allegedly 'pushing and abusing' India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, looked as if he was ready to have his bowling do all the talking.
The pace spearhead provided England the first breakthrough with an outstanding delivery that pitched outside leg, forcing Dhawan to play at it and the southpaw nicked it through to third slip, a low catch taken by Gary Ballance. Anderson's 230th Test wicket also took him past England great Fred Trueman as the highest wicket taker on English soil.
In the next over, Vijay also got a reprieve as he was dropped off Stuart Broad even before he could open his account. Keeper Matt Prior made a valiant dive to his right and got his glove before putting down what was a tough chance.
Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara (28) then added 37 runs for the second wicket to stabilise the innings. But just when it looked that Vijay, who struck four fours, was growing in confidence the batsman edged Plunkett to Ballance for his second catch of the morning at third slip.
Anderson struck soon after the lunch break to get rid of Virat Kohli (25) with some away movement and Prior took it safely behind the stumps.
Stokes produced a brilliant delivery that nipped back in to knock of Pujara's middle-stumps while Broad got rid of India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (1) again caught behind by Prior.
Jadeja, who was booed by the Lord's fans, lasted 11 deliveries for his three runs before he was trapped lbw by part-time spinner Moeen Ali.