An elegant innings of 235 from Ian Bell helped England amass 591 and then an impressive bowling performance of 3/27 from out-of-form off spinner, Graeme Swann, left India reeling at 103 for 5, still trailing by 488 runs with just five wickets left on day three of the fourth test at Kennington Oval, London. Rahul Dravid was the lone fighter for India with an innings of 57*.
England resumed the day on 457 for three and the overnight pair of Bell and Anderson added 23 runs from four overs before the latter edged a long half-volley from Sreesanth straight to second slip for 13. Sreesanth had his second of the day by when he had Eoin Morgan caught behind in his next over.
Ian Bell brought up his first double century, beating his previous highest score of 199 against South Africa, with a boundary through fine leg. Bell and Bopara added 61 runs for the sixth wicket before Bell was finally removed by Raina, trapped leg before for 235. Bell's 364-ball innings included 23 hits to the fence and two over it. Ravi Bopara played a cameo of 44* from 69 balls, adding 43 unbeaten runs with Matt Prior, taking England into lunch at 591 for 6.
Continuous rains during and post lunch, delayed proceedings, prompting a declaration from Strauss. The post lunch session was washed out as England declared on 591/6. Rahul Dravid opened the innings for India along with Sehwag as Gautam Gambhir suffered concussion following a blow to the head while dropping Kevin Pietersen.
Sehwag started off well, hitting consecutive boundaries through point off Anderson, but departed a ball later when the latter trapped him in front to leave India reeling at 8 for 1. Two overs later, Stuart Broad had Laxman caught behind to make it 13 for 2. Dravid looked confident at the crease as he cut Anderson through backward point for a boundary and followed it with consecutive boundaries, through midwicket and third man, off the same bowler in his next over.
Sachin Tendulkar was struck on the helmet by Broad while trying to duck under a bouncer, but followed it up with a brilliant straight drive for boundary off the very next ball. Dravid flicked Bresnan off his pads and Tendulkar followed it up with a fine boundary off Swann via paddle sweep. Bresnan dropped Tendulkar off his own bowling in the 16th over and Tendulkar made the most of it by cutting him through backward point for boundary.
Tendulkar punched Swann through point for a boundary but departed off the every next delivery, trying to sweep, but the ball went off the glove and popped up for Anderson at first slip. Dravid reached his half-century from 93 balls with a single to mid off. Raina struggled for 29 deliveries before being stumped off Swann for duck. Ishant Sharma, who came in as night-watchman, survived just eight balls before being caught at forward short leg, two overs before the end of days play.
Dhoni brought up India's century with a powerfully swept boundary off the last ball of the day as India ended the day on 103 for 5, still trailing by 488 runs with just five wickets. Dravid remained unbeaten on 57, while Dhoni was unbeaten on 5.
At stumps on day 3: England 1st inns: 591/6 dec, India 1st inns: 103/5
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