England started day three of the third Test knowing that another dominant display with the bat could set up victory in Kolkata.
Alastair Cook (190) and Jonathan Trott (87) built on their partnership during the early part of the day but both were dismissed in the second session as India started to make progress.
However, a half century from Kevin Pietersen ensured England continued their domination before he was out lbw to Ravichandran Ashwin.
England closed the day on 509-6, a lead of 193, with Matt Prior (40*) and Graeme Swann (21*) still at the crease for the tourists.
Read how the events unfolded on day three below.
Good morning all. It feels like this will be a big day in the context of this match. If England can produce another dominant display with the bat, then they will be able to take this game away from India. However, a fightback from India's spinners certainly shouldn't be ruled out.
What more is there to say about captain Cook? England's opener scored his 23rd Test century yesterday and he will continue his innings this morning on 136, with Jonathan Trott on 21.
India should produce a response today with the match at risk but the hosts seem to have lost their form as this series has progressed.
Cook will be hoping that his side can bat all day and build a mammoth first innings lead before allowing Panesar and Swann to work their magic.
Here's what Nick Compton had to say about Cook after yesterday's play had ended: "It says a lot about his hunger and determination, the fact that he's been so consistent over a period of time at a young age. A lot of batsmen only really find their feet at 28, 29, and the fact that he's found his feet at a very young age and done it for so long is amazing."
The pitch hasn't done too much just yet but will we see much turn today? If the conditions favour batting, England must take advantage as the spinners will surely receive some encouragement on the final two days.
MS Dhoni has had his final word with his players as Trott and Cook make their way out onto the pitch. Big day, here we go!
Ashwin will bowl the first over of the day.
Good start from Ashwin and a little bit of turn allows Trott to get off strike with a leg bye. Cook is more than happy to defend the rest of the over. India definitely need an early wicket.
Zaheer takes the ball from the other end and he begins his spell round the wicket to Trott. The Warwickshire batsman looks equal to the threat. A flick through mid-wicket brings Trott a single and that's the only blemish to the over.
Ashwin is giving the ball some flight here and he has an lbw appeal rejected when Trott manages to get just outside the line of off-stump. A hurried single is on offer at mid-on and Cook defends the final ball. New ball available in four overs.
Zaheer strays down leg-side before switching to over the wicket, however, Trott's defence looks at its best this morning. Maiden over.
Ashwin gets a look at Cook and the England skipper uses his feet well to defend a looping delivery. India look excited when Cook mistimes a sweep shot but the opener may have got just outside the line of off-stump when the ball struck his pads. Stroke of luck for England's run-machine.
Ojha is thrown the ball for his first bowl of the day, replacing Zaheer. The spinner is left frustrated when England pick up a leg-bye from the second delivery. A nudge to mid-on brings Cook his first run of the day and it's two from the over. Steady start from England this morning.
Much better over from Ashwin as he gets Cook driving outside off-stump but the England captain finds the middle on two occasions, picking out Indian fielders in the process. The new ball is available.
Ojha is hitting a very good area in this spell but Trott is doing well to play the ball in front of his pads. It's another maiden over and there doesn't seem to be much happening in the game at the moment.
Cook pushes a single to deep cover at the start of Ashwin's over and a well-timed sweep shot brings Trott two runs. Signs of spinout nowhere near drastic enough to trouble these two. Trott has two more runs with a clever paddle sweep to fine leg.
Another good over from Ojha and a push onto the leg-side for a single from Cook ruins a maiden over for the spinner. Decent start from India but it's wickets they need.
Finally, we see a boundary. Cook lunges forward in trademark fashion to drive the ball through cover for four runs. Good reply from Ashwin, who beats the outside edge with a delivery that turns and bounces. Two more singles follow and England now trail by 83.
Dhoni has organised his fielders well so far this morning and Trott struggles to pick the gaps in Ojha's over until a push past point brings two runs to England.
Easy single to mid-wicket allows Cook to get off strike before Trott is back to his old tricks with four blocks and an outside edge to gives him two runs. India need to think about taking the new ball.
Cook looks intent on remaining at the crease all day as he walks another single to mid-on. England's captain is now on 146 with Trott taking his time on 32.
Cook once again rotates the strike at the beginning of the over before Trott drops down on one to pick up two runs to the vacant fine leg region. That shot looks a good option for both players against these spinners. Great shot from Trott as he leans on one outside off-stump to drive through extra cover for four.
India take the new ball and Zaheer is immediately brought back into the attack. Cook is not troubled and he moves to 150 later in the over with a perfectly-timed nudge through mid-wicket for four runs. Superb shot and the runs keep coming for 'Chef'.
This looks a good move as Ishant Sharma comes on for his first spell of the morning. There is some bounce for the taller seamer but Trott does well to move his gloves out of the way. Four runs for Trott with a push through the covers. The harder ball may suit the England pair at this stage of the day.
Zaheer starts a new over and a misfield from Sehwag at mid-wicket gifts Trott two runs before a nudge through the same area adds four runs to England's total. A flick to fine leg brings another boundary and that's a half-century for Trott. It's been patient but a welcome knock for the Warwickshire batsman. This partnership is now worth 101 and it's time for a drinks break.
It's been the opposite of what India would have wanted this morning as England continue to dominate in Kolkata. If these two can carry on this partnership, the game could be taken away from India by the end of the day.
Good work from Ashwin at mid-off to limit Trott to a single at the start of Sharma's new over. Big bounce later in the over but Cook does well to prod the ball to safety. Promising signs but at this stage, who for? India may well have to bat last on this pitch.
Zaheer finds a thick edge at the start of the over but it's safe and Trott has a single to third man. Cook is completely deceived by a delivery that keeps very low later in the over but the skipper does then pick a slower ball to collect a run to square leg.
Zaheer was given an official warning for running on the pitch in that last over but England won't mind if he makes a few marks just outside off-stump for when they return to bowl. Sharma begins his new over and he is greeted by Cook with a perfect straight drive for four more runs. What a chance! Indian players have heads in hands when Cook nudges the ball in the air straight to Sharma but the bowler somehow manages to drop a routine catch. Dhoni was desperate for a wicket but the wait goes on!
I don't want to pick on Sharma for too much longer but honestly, you won't see an easier chance put down. Poor from Sharma and just painful for India. Zaheer continues his spell with a very good over and Trott is happy to just take the single from it.
Sharma continues and he almost sneaks through Trott's defence with a well-directed yorker but the England batsman does well to deflect the ball to safety. He shows his form later in the over by driving through the off-side for four runs.
Zaheer continues in typically accurate fashion but Cook doesn't look like he'll be offering India another chance anytime soon. Just a single from the over.
Cook gets off strike early in Sharma's over with a cut behind point before Trott cracks a drive straight to the fielder at cover. Good shot, no runs. The same shot brings a single a ball later and England are coasting to lunch now.
Ashwin is back for a new spell and Cook sneaks a single with a nudge to fine leg and Trott hands the strike back with a single just two balls later. Big turn for Ashwin when he beats Cook's outside edge and that is encouraging. A paddle sweep brings Cook a singe and it's three from the over.
It's spin from both ends now as Ojha comes into the attack once again but he's too wide on his return, allowing Cook and Trott to trade singles. India are in desperate need of a breakthrough.
Ashwin finds some turn and thinks he has Trott caught at short leg but it doesn't look like there was bat on that and the umpire agrees. Certainly more signs of turn for the spinners now. A sweep shot almost spells the end for Trott later in the over but he manages to glove the ball inches wide of the stumps. Maiden over.
Cook attempts a huge sweep shot outside leg stump but he can only find a single to Yuvraj at fine leg. Ojha gets some turn and bounce but is centimetres away from catching Trott's edge. Good couple of overs from India's spinners.
A rare scene out in India as Cook misses an attempted cut shot early in Ashwin's new over. There is a single for the England captain and Trott has two runs with a sweep to square leg.
England are happily dealing in singles just before lunch as Cook adds another run to his total to long-on but Ojha responds well, forcing Trott to keep guard outside off-stump.
Ashwin begins what should be the final over before lunch, with Cook collecting two runs with a well-timed nudge through mid-wicket. A single for each batsman follows to end what's been another excellent session for the tourists.
Lunch: Once again, it's England who head into lunch on top. A dominant session with the bat means that the tourists are only 20 runs behind with nine wickets in hand. Cook has moved to 167 while Trott is now on 66 after a difficult period earlier this morning. Sharma's drop off Cook is the big moment from the session and it looks like it could be a long day for India.
We're going to take a quick break during lunch but be sure to join us in around 30 minutes for the start of the next session.
Welcome back everyone. So, with the second session of the third day just minutes away, where do we stand? Cook once again looks set for a huge score and it appears as though Trott may have found his best form once again. Quite simply, India need wickets very quickly.
Cook's knock is the seventh time he has passed 150 in Tests. The stats about England's skipper keep on coming, don't they?
England currently trail by 20 runs and Cook will be eyeing a big lead before the close of play but these two may have to increase the run-rate in this session to really put the pressure on India.
The Indian player are back out on the field looking dejected to say the least. Big session for Dhoni, who need to spark some life into his players. The England duo walk out together looking pleased with themselves and Cook's grin will become even wider if they can delay the fall of a wicket for another session.
It will be Ojha who bowls the first over after lunch.
Good start from the left-arm spinner but Trott does get off strike with a prod onto the leg-side. Cook can't find a gap on the leg-side and it's a quiet start to the session.
Ashwin is still finding the slightest bit of turn outside off-stump when bowling to Trott but England's number three relieves some pressure midway through the over with a sweep shot for a single. England will want to increase the rate of scoring but if a wicket falls, it could be more bad news for India with the fluent Pietersen due in next.
Big spin for Ojha, who beats the outside edge of Trott by a clear margin during a uneventful maiden. Cook shows the first sign that he may want to kick on in the session in Ashwin's next over with a big swing outside off-stump and despite the ball being sliced behind point, it's four runs to England. 300 up for the tourists.
Ojha is racing through his overs in an attempt to unsettle Trott but there's no reward for the spinner. Variable bounce outside off-stump but there's no threat out there.
Cook gets off strike at the start of Ashwin's over with a single and Trott then luckily earns four runs with a thick edge to the third man boundary rope. A misfield from Sharma gifts Trott another run and it's six from the over.
Trott, in the 70s now, has used the paddle sweep well today and he picks up two runs with the shot to fine leg. England's duo then trade singles and it's all a little too comfortable for the tourists. Time for England to put their foot on the gas.
Brilliant from Trott as he reverse sweeps a full delivery to the boundary rope, bringing up the 150 partnership in the process. Six runs from the over and England now lead with plenty of batting to come.
Poor from India as Kohli allows Cook's nudge onto the leg-side to go straight through his legs, gifting the tourists a single. Ojha thinks he has Trott lbw but the ball looks to be heading past leg-stump and it's given not out.
Ashwin lets out a sigh of frustration as Cook collects a single with a paddle sweep to fine leg. There's a good reply from the spinner who bowls a tighter line in the middle of the over. However, Cook spoils the good work with a huge six straight down the ground. Beautiful shot from a player at the top of his game. Nine runs from the over.
Good running from these two as Cook rushes two runs following a clip to deep square leg. Ojha is trying to drag Cook across his stumps but the England won't be tempted into a false shot. He is almost run out when a call for a singles is rejected by Trott but the throw from Kohli is poor and Cook is safe.
Another misfield, this time at point, allows Trott to move to 84 with a single before a paddle sweep brings one run to Cook. Could be time for a change but it looks like Ojha will continue his spell.
It is Ojha who continues but it's an uneventful over, with Cook managing to keep the strike with a single from the last ball.
Cook sweeps from a long way outside off-stump to give the strike to Trott early in Ashwin's over. Trott attempts a sweep but top edges the ball high behind square, landing safely. Four more runs for England.
Wicket! Trott (87) c Dhoni b Ojha
Finally, India have a breakthrough. Ojha finds Trott's outside edge and Dhoni takes a very good catch behind the stumps. Much-needed wicket for the hosts but it's Kevin Pietersen who is next in for England.
Pietersen starts with an expansive drive but he can't find the gap at cover. Ojha does well to pin the new batsman to the crease but England's number four does get off the mark with a cut to point.
Clever move from Dhoni as he brings on Yuvraj to bowl at Pietersen, who labelled India's all-rounder a 'pie chucker' a few years back. Pietersen almost drags on first ball when a delivery keeps low but the ball sneaks past the stumps. It's a maiden from Yuvraj and early signs suggest that this spell could go on for a while yet.
Cook is lucky not to get something on the ball when Ojha strays down leg-side with Dhoni taking a smart catch. Not too far away from a glove there. It's another maiden over and this is good pressure from India.
It's time for the players to take a quick drinks break. Cook is currently on 188 and Pietersen has just one run since his arrival at the crease.
Yuvraj continues but every now and again, he tends to offer a gift to the batsman and he does to Pietersen. A wider ball is crunched through the covers for four by Pietersen before Kohli dives well at cover to prevent a repeat just one ball later.
Ojha starts a new over but he looks like he's struggling to find the right line to Cook, who easily walks a single with a flick off the pads through mid-wicket. An appeal for lbw against Pietersen is then rejected and four byes through the same batsman's defence follows to add to India's misery.
Yuvraj has his chance against Cook this time but a nudge to mid-wicket sees the skipper move to 190. Pietersen walks down the pitch midway through the over, punching the ball straight down the ground for four runs.
Sharp turn for Ojha but the ball evades everyone, meaning four more byes are added to England's total. Ojha adjusts his pace in the over but Cook, once again, looks untroubled.
Dhoni decides it's time for a change as Zaheer comes on for a new spell. Pietersen takes a couple of steps down the pitch but he can only pick out the fielder at short mid-wicket. He does have a couple of runs with a similar shot later in the over.
Wicket! Cook (190) run out (Kohli)
Wow! I'm not sure if I've ever seen anything like this. Cook decides against running for a single and as he returns to his crease, he lifts his bat to move out of the way of Kohli's throw. The ball crashes into the stumps and Cook immediately knows he's in trouble. There is some conversation between the umpires but the final decision is out and Cook goes in the most remarkable way. What an innings once again from England's skipper.
If Cook was in his ground before taking evasive action to move out of the way of the throw, he would have been given not out but he left his ground too early. Ian Bell is the new batsman for England.
Bell is off the mark with a single in Ojha's new over and there's almost another wicket when the spinner beats Pietersen's outside edge. One more single follows. This pair will score quickly if they can build a partnership.
Zaheer is back for a new over but it's certainly not as eventful as the previous one. Pietersen has a swing at a shorter ball but he can't make contact and he's lucky not to glove the ball to Dhoni. Maiden over.
Good over from Ojha, with Bell happy to defend before being beaten by a big bouncing delivery outside off-stump. In the last couple of hours, we have started to see a bit more encouragement for the spinners.
Sharma is back for a new spell but begins the over with a no ball. It is a good return from the seamer though and he is also finding some variable bounce, forcing Pietersen to defend a ball at his toes midway through the over. A flick off the hip is perfectly timed and Pietersen has four runs behind square on the leg-side.
Ojha continues but he's greeted by a solid defence from Bell, who sneaks a single to fine leg midway through the over. Pietersen is happy to defend against the left-armer and it's just the one run scored for England.
Great start to the over from Sharma, who beats Bell's outside edge but luckily for England, there's no touch. Bell does well to get on top of a short ball but his unorthodox pull shot only produces a single to deep mid-wicket. A nudge onto the leg-side from Pietersen means it's two runs from the over.
Gorgeous shot from Pietersen as he dances down the pitch to hit Ojha for a big six straight down the ground. Good response from the spinner when he finds the edge next ball but it doesn't carry to Sehwag at slip. Seven from the over.
Ashwin comes on for a new spell and to bowl what will be the final over before the tea break. Pietersen drops to one knee at the start of the over to sweep the ball through the fielders on the leg-side to collect four runs. A single is taken to long-on before Bell defends the remainder of the over.
Tea: Despite the two wickets in the session, England remain in complete control and lead by 65 runs. Pietersen looks like he's ready to play some shots and goes into the tea break on 29 alongside Ian Bell, who is unbeaten on 3.
It's disappointing that Cook couldn't reach 200 but to be dismissed in that way will hurt the England captain. However, England have recovered well since then and Pietersen looks in superb form once again. He and Bell will probably aim to score quickly in the next session.
We should celebrate Cook's innings rather than dwell on that dismissal. Once again he's proved why he probably is next to Hashim Amla as one of the best players in the world at the moment. Incredible temperament and it's another big score for the Essex ace.
The Indian players will be wondering how they only made 316 on this pitch and as this game progresses, the quality of that bowling performance from England is clear.
Signal of intent from Pietersen and England at the start of the evening session. Pietersen cuts Ojha's first two ball to the boundary rope for four before adding a third boundary with a powerful shot down the ground. Great over from England.
Good running from these two as they rush a couple to third man following a cut shot from Bell at the start of Sharma's over.
Wicket! Bell (5) c Dhoni b Sharma
Great time to take a wicket for India just after tea. Bell has a swing at a wide one from Sharma but can only inside edge the ball to Dhoni, who takes a good low catch. Samit Patel in next for the tourists.
Sharma starts with a short ball to Patel but he oversteps the mark and it's a no ball. Good defence from Patel but it's India's over.
Pietersen will continue to play shots no matter what the situation is and he finds two singles to deep square leg before hurrying a single with a prod onto the off-side. Patel rocks back and smashes the ball through the off-side to get off the mark with a boundary, bringing up 400 in the process.
Brilliant back foot drive from Pietersen in Sharma's over but good fielding at mid-off means there's no runs on offer. Good work from Sharma, it's a maiden.
Patel earns a couple of runs at the start of Ashwin's new spell with a flick off the pads behind square on the leg-side. The new batsman looks confident as he skips down the track to loft the ball over mid-wicket for four more. Eight come from the over.
Shot of the day from Pietersen who stands tall to drive the ball straight through cover for four runs. Cracking technique from Pietersen, who is one shot from Pietersen now.
Ashwin continues and he causes Patel some trouble midway through the over with a delivery that bounces and turns sharply. Patel does enough to survive and proceeds to block out a maiden over.
Zaheer is back for a new spell, replacing Sharma. Fifty for Pietersen when he flicks the ball to fine leg for a single. Another impressive innings from England's number four. Time for a drinks break.
Pietersen picks up another boundary when he sweeps Ashwin's first ball of a new over to square leg for four runs.
Wicket! Pietersen (54) lbw b Ashwin
Pietersen attempts the sweep but this time he misses the ball and Ashwin has his man trapped in front lbw. It's a big, bug wicket for India as Pietersen looked to be in full flow. Matt Prior in next and he survives the over.
Zaheer begins a new over with a sharp bouncer but Prior just manages to avoid gloving the ball to Dhoni despite missing the attempted hook shot. Prior is off the mark with a single and Patel keeps the strike with a push to mid-wicket at the end of the over.
Patel uses his feet well against Ashwin to get off strike with a single but Prior moves back to the non-striker's end with a sweep shot to square leg. A sweep shot from Patel isn't as well timed but the Notts batsman does collect two runs with Sehwag fetching the ball at a leisurely pace. Five runs scored in the over.
Great shot from Patel midway through Zaheer's over as he crunches a drive through extra cover for four runs. Another single for Patel with a nudge to square-leg and it's time for a drinks break.
Good response from India in this session but they'll want to take more wickets before the close of play.
Patel hands the strike to Prior from the second ball and a cut backward of point earns England's wicketkeeper three runs. Later in the over, Prior charges down the pitch to heave the ball over mid-wicket for four more runs. Good cricket from England.
Patel moves to 24 with a nudge onto the leg-side at the start of a new over from Zaheer and Prior has a single when he guides a short ball to point. Another decent over from Zaheer.
Ojha's back for a new spell and his first ball is clipped to the fine leg boundary by Patel. Poor from Gambhir in the deep as a misfield gifts Patel another boundary, this time at mid-wicket.
Wicket! Patel (33) c Sehwag b Ojha
A short wide ball is sent down by Ojha but Patel can only edge the ball to Sehwag, who takes the catch at the second attempt at slip. Disappointing for Patel as he looked in good form out there.
Sharma begins a new spell and a mistake from Dhoni behind the stumps means four byes are added to England's total. It's a very good over from Sharma until a short ball is sent into the stands by Prior, who pulls the ball over the mid-wicket boundary.
Runs for Swann backward of point with a cut off a slightly wider delivery from Ojha. England now lead by 152.
Ashwin begins a new over and Prior immediately hands the strike to Swann with a single. There are some optimistic appeals for lbw from the Indian fielders but Swann is definitely safe with an inside edge. Swann does give the strike back to Prior, who perfects the reverse sweep to earn four runs in front of square.
It's Swann's turn to show a bit of an intent as he hits Ojha over mid-off for four runs. India need to halt England's progress here because the lead is growing very quickly.
Ashwin is starting to find more spin as we approach the close of play. Prior is keen to sweep and he does to great effect later in the over, collecting four runs to square leg.
Swann and Prior each take a single from Ojha's over. These two look in good touch at the moment and they'll want to stay here until the end of the day.
Ashwin continues but Prior prods the ball onto the leg-side for a single. Swann chips the ball over mid-wicket to pick up two more runs.
One final spell for Sharma before the close of play, which could be a good move considering he found some movement earlier in the session. Maiden over from the seamer with Swann happy to leave outside off-stump.
Prior plays the sweep once again but picks out Gambhir at deep mid-wicket to only collect a single. Swann then gets off strike with a nudge onto the leg-side before Prior picks up four runs with a sweep behind square leg.
Ojha sees Swann charging down the pitch and drops his delivery short, forcing the batsman to readjust. Prior is gifted a full toss later in the over and he takes advantage, smashing the ball to cover for four runs.
Just a change of ends for Sharma, who comes back into the attack. He is punished for dragging the ball too wide to Swann, giving the batsman enough room to cut the ball to the cover boundary for four. Good response from the seamer but England are cruising towards the end of the day.
Ojha looks frustrated when Prior sends him to the third man boundary with a well-placed shot for four. It's a good over from the spinner though and there's just four from it. One over left in the day.
Runs for Swann when Pujara spills the ball at point, allowing the England duo to run an easy two. Sharma drops his length again but Pujara does well to block Swann's cut shot this time. Two from the over.
Close of play England finish on 509-6 following another impressive display on day three. Cook will once again dominate the headlines with his superb 190 but contributions from the middle order mean that England now hold a lead of 193 runs.
India have still got work to do tomorrow and they must wrap up this innings quickly in the morning if they are to salvage anything from the Test. Join us again tomorrow when England will look to set up victory in Kolkata.
Written by
Callum Mulvihill
Callum Mulvihill
