Indias spinners, R Ashwin in particular, had threatened to disrupt Englands effort on the first day of the first Test in Rajkot, but Joe Root starred for the tourists with an impressive ton - his eleventh in Tests - to set the platform for a sizable score of 311 for 4 at stumps on Wednesday.In the first two sessions of the day, England was reduced to 102 for three as Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja found spin early. But Root and Moeen Ali stood up to the spin challenge from India and took their side to a strong position with a 179-run stand for the fourth wicket, the longest and highest partnership by a visiting team since the start of the last season.Root in particular was fluent and answered all questions posed to him by Indias spinners. Ashwin, on his part, tested the right-hander with flight and drift, but Root cut and swept the ball with ease and struck 25 fours enroute in his ton.Alastair Cook, Englands captain, had at the toss said that his batsmen needed to stand tall in the first innings and Root, who was finally dismissed for a 180-ball 124 and Ali, who remained unbeaten on 99 at stumps seized early advantage in the Test and the series.Since his recall in 2014, Root has scored 200 not out, 154 not out, 83, 98, 134, 85, 24, 0, 48, 40, and now 124 in his first innings of the series. Roots innings in Rajkot ended in an extraordinary fashion, when he drove the ball back towards Umesh Yadav, who caught it and in a single upwards motion flung it skywards, but with less control than he might have desired. Englands number three stood his ground only to have the third umpire, Rod Tucker, uphold the on-field umpires decision.England at that stage stood at 281 for four with over ten overs to play. Roots hundred was his third against India, his third in Asia and his third away from home. He also became the first foreign batsman to score a ton in India since Michael Clarke scored his in February 2013.Ben Stokes and Ali ensured they kept their wickets in tact to add to Indias woes on the second day. Ali stands unbeaten on 192-ball 99. We always thought seam might be a bit useful early on, and the guys at the top did well. We just knew we needed to build a partnership. I thought Mo was outstanding as well, look forward to watching him continue tomorrow, Root said.The way we practiced in the lead-up to the game, its nice to go and get it out there in the middle. I think we saw throughout the innings the ball having variable bounce. Its important to get a first-innings score and put pressure on them that way. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Lee-Smith-Draft-Jersey/ . 8 Kansas to a 64-63 win over Texas Tech on Tuesday night. The freshman from Vaughan, Ont. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Deandre-Washington-Draft-Jersey/ . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Reggie-Nelson-Draft-Jersey/ . -- Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson asked his players a simple question during Fridays morning shootaround: How many of them had ever been on a team 14 games over . http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-Shareece-Wright-Draft-Jersey/ . Perhaps Carroll was so prepared for a break because he believes there is very little the Seattle Seahawks need heading into the off-season. "I dont see anything that we need to add. We just have to get better," Carroll said. http://www.officialraidersgear.com/Raiders-David-Sharpe-Draft-Jersey/ . It was Kerbers third final of the year after losing to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in Monterrey in April and to Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic in Tokyo two weeks ago. The 10th-ranked German improved her record in finals to 3-5. SEATTLE -- In desperate need of getting back on a winning roll to salvage their waning postseason hopes, the Seattle Mariners beat up on Texas ace Cole Hamels for the second time in a week.This time, though, the Mariners kept adding on.Robinson Cano homered during a five-run first inning, the Mariners knocked out Hamels early and then Seattle pulled away with a six-run sixth inning in a 14-6 win over the AL West-leading Texas Rangers on Monday.Canos 32 homers this season are one off his career high set in 2012 while with the New York Yankees. The two-run shot also set the tone for Seattles largest offensive output since scoring 14 in a win over Toronto in late July.Great job by our offense, just kept attacking, attacking, attacking. ... We did a pretty good job getting on their bullpen, Seattle manager Scott Servais said. We needed it. Ive said it a few times, those games are nice. Hopefully we can get some momentum going.Franklin Gutierrez drove in four runs, including a solo home run in the second inning and a two-run double in the sixth when Seattle sent 11 batters to the plate. Gutierrez finished a triple short of the cycle.Jesus Sucre tied a career high with three hits, including a two-run single to cap Seattles big first inning.Hamels (14-5) was knocked around for the second time in a week by the Mariners and failed to make it through two innings for just the second time in his career -- Hamels lasted just two outs in a 2010 start with Philadelphia.He gave up six runs and seven hits against the Mariners just last week in Texas.Monday was even worse.Its just a matter of not executing pitches whatsoever. Theyre definitely getting themselves into hitter-friendly counts and thats a credit to what their game plan was, Hamels said. For me, it was throwing too many pitches over the heart of the plate.The key at-bat was Kyle Seagers two-out walk in the first inning. Seager stole second base and scored on Dae-Ho Lees hit for an early 3-0 lead. Leonys Martin followed with a double, and Sucres soft liner scored a pair for a 5-0 lead.Gutierrez homered to right field with one out in the second -- his 14th of the season -- and Lees second RBI single later in the inning finally ended Hamels day.ddddddddddddROCKY REIGNDespite being staked to a 7-0 lead, Seattle starter Felix Hernandez (10-5) nearly gave it all away. Texas scored five times off Hernandez in the third inning, including a three-run homer by Nomar Mazara and RBI singles from Rougned Odor and Jonathan Lucroy. Hernandez threw 49 pitches in the inning, but managed to keep the lead. Hernandez made it through 5 2/3 innings and gave up six runs before being lifted.Sucre said Hernandez got flustered in the third inning by a few borderline pitches that were called balls.It was my fault. I got out of my game a little bit there, Hernandez said.Odor added a solo home run in the sixth inning -- his 30th of the season -- and has homered in five of the past six games.TRAINERS ROOM:Rangers: Manager Jeff Banister said high stress innings -- multiple runners on, pitches in an inning -- are factored into pitching decisions. Thats one of the reasons Yu Darvish was pulled after a season-low four innings Sunday. Darvish allowed five runs on seven hits, throwing 80 pitches, but 33 were in a two-run first.Mariners: RHP Tom Wilhelmsen, on the 15-day DL with lower back spasms, is expected to throw a simulated game on Thursday. Thats the plan with him, see how that goes, Servais said. Once he faces some hitters, well see where thats at.UP NEXTRangers: LHP Martin Perez (9-10) makes his career-high 29th start. He is 2-6 with a 5.73 ERA in his last 11 starts. Perez, who had Tommy John surgery in May 2014, already has pitched 169 2/3 innings this season. His high was 167 2/3 in 2013.Mariners: LHP James Paxton (4-5) was pushed back one day after tearing a fingernail in his last start, when he came out after five innings against Texas. Paxton experienced no problems throwing on the side, but Servais said there is a little bit more intensity on the breaking pitches in an actual game. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '