Cook, Pietersen, Monty Set up England

Mumbai: Skipper Alastair Cook continued to torment India with yet another gritty batting display while Kevin Pietersen returned to form with an unbeaten half-century to give England a slight advantage in the second Test on Saturday.

After dismissing India for 327 in the first innings, England moved to a comfortable 178 for two in 65 overs before the stumps were drawn on the second day, with the visitors trailing by 149 runs.

At close, the left-handed Cook, who had scored a big century in the first Test, was unbeaten on 87. The more aggressive Pietersen was batting on 62 after a stay of 127 minutes during which he faced 85 balls and hit nine fours.

Cook batted for 251 minutes and faced 209 balls, striking a six and ten fours in the process.

The third wicket duo has so far put on 110 runs in 186 balls. For the record, Cook has batted for 960 minutes in all in the three innings he has batted during the series.

With three more days left in the second game of the four-match series in which India are 1-0 ahead, a result is on the cards on a track that is aiding the spin bowlers.

England, though, looked to have a slight advantage with a settled and experienced pair at the wicket and some more batting to follow.

On a wicket where the spin duo of Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann ran through the star-studded Indian batting line-up in which Cheteshwar Pujara (135) and Ravichandra Ashwin (68) stood out, the trio of home team spinners looked largely clueless against the determined Cook and Pietersen.

Barring the twin strike by left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha in the space of 11 balls just before tea, the home side's spin attack looked far less menacing than both Panesar (5-129) and Swann, who ran through the tail to end up with figures of four for 70.

Earlier, Monty Panesar took five wickets and Graeme Swann scalped four, as England bowled out India for 327 runs on the second day of the second Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Saturday.

Cheteshwar Pujara was finally dismissed by England as Graeme Swann had him stumped by Matt Prior.

Pujara charged down the pitch but missed the delivery that went straight on and was stumped after hitting 12 fours in his 135-run knock.

Graeme Swann took his 200th wicket when he trapped Harbhajan Singh plumb in front of the wicket.

Swann flighted a delivery outside off, Harbhajan walked far too across his stumps and missed his sweep and was struck on the pads.

Monty Panesar registered his 11th five-wicket haul when he dismissed R Ashwin leg before wicket.

Panesar bowled a quicker delivery that landed outside off, Ashwin went back for the cut but was beaten by pace and was hit on the pads.

Ashwin played well for 68 and added 111 runs with Pujara. This is Panesar's first five-wicket haul against India.

The day's play started with Cheteshwar Pujara and Ashwin resuming the Indian first innings.

Brief scores
India 327 (Pujara 135, Panesar 5-129, Swann 4-70)
England 178 for 2 (Cook 87*, Pietersen 62*)
Status England trail by 149 runs