Cook sets up dominant England
Report courtesy of Eurosport.
Alastair Cook finally fell for 190 but England's middle order kept up the momentum on day three of the third test in Kolkata on Friday.
A freak run out finally cost the England captain his wicket, but despite that loss the tourists closed on 509 for six at stumps, a lead of 193 runs.
There were half-centuries for Jonathan Trott (87) and Kevin Pietersen (54), while Matt Prior and Graeme Swann put on a brisk 50 partnership as the day drew to a close.
Starting the day off cautiously, the runs only began to flow when India took the second new ball 15 overs into the day, with Trott particularly opening up against the seamers.
India's fielding was predictably ragged, none more costly than Ishant Sharma spilling a simple return catch against Cook on 156. This compounded Cheteshwar Pujara dropping him yesterday on just 17.
Trott departed after edging a good delivery from Pragyan Ojha 13 runs short of his century, before Cook went in bizarre fashion.
He had left his ground at the non-striker's end, though was making no effort to take a single. Virat Kohli threw at the stumps, and to avoid being hit on the hands or arm, Cook lifted his bat out of the way. He had not returned to his crease, however, and when the ball hit the stumps there was a moment of resignation as he realised what he had done.
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Ian Bell was the only player not to get going, caught behind for five off the bowling of Sharma.
Pietersen attacked on either side of tea, only to be undone by a sweep and given out lbw to Ravichandran Ashwin after reaching his fifty. Samit Patel's test best innings of 33 ended abruptly after cutting Ojha to slip.
Prior (40) and Swann (21) saw England to the close, and the onus will be on these two to continue and push the lead past 200 on day four.
Report Day 1
Report Day 2
INDIA: V Sehwag, G Gambhir, CA Pujara, SR Tendulkar, V Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (capt & wk), R Ashwin, Z Khan, PP Ojha, I Sharma
ENGLAND: AN Cook (capt), NRD Compton, IJL Trott, KP Pietersen, IR Bell, SR Patel, MJ Prior (wk), GP Swann, MS Panesar, JM Anderson, ST Finn
