Pietersen, Panesar Set England Close to Victory

Mumbai: Mumbai: England look in full control of the second Test as they reduced India to 117/7 in their second innings after scoring 413 on the third day at the Wankhede, Mumbai on Sunday.

Just before close Gautam Gambhir had reached his half century, extending India's lead to 31.

After conceding 86-run lead, India got off to a poor start as they lost Virender Sehwag and the in-form Cheteshwar Pujara at the score of just 37.

England spinners Monty Panesar and Grame Swann spoiled India's start after the visitors were bowled out for 413.

Monty Panesar first got rid of Virender Sehwag at the score of 30. Graeme Swann then capitalised on the early breakthrough and sent back Pujara by getting him caught by Bairstow.

While all eyes were on Sachin Tendulkar (8), the local man failed to rescue his side and became second victim of Panesar after meeting his first innings score.

In the 21st over Swann struck again to send back Kohli reducing India to 65/4.

After addition of 13 runs on board, Panesar scalped Yuvraj to leave India half down.

Skipper MS Dhoni was the sixth batsman to fall. Hi dismissal came at the score of 92 after India just crossed England total lead.

Earlier, Pragyan Ojha took five wickets while Harbhajan Singh and R Ashwin scalped two each as India bowled England for 413 runs in their first innings at tea on the third day of the second Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday.

Ojha registered his fifth five-wicket haul when he had Kevin Pietersen caught behind by MS Dhoni.

Ojha flighted a delivery full outside off, Pietersen chased that with a drive but only managed an outside edge to Dhoni.

Pietersen's 186-run knock was studded with 4 sixes and 20 fours.

Pietersen not only hit one of the most entertaining knocks in Test cricket, in alien conditions but also registered the highest score by an England batsman in Test cricket.

Ojha took his fourth wicket when he had Samit Patel caught by Virat Kohli at gully.

Ojha tossed a delivery outside off, Patel jabbed at it pretty hard, the ball spun away, took the outside edge and flew straight to Kohli at gully.

Kevin Pietersen crossed 150 as England took the lead soon after lunch.

Pietersen reached his 150 with an astonishing slog sweep that went for six over mid-wicket off Pragyan Ojha.

This is Pietersen's tenth score in excess of 150 in Test cricket and the second in the sub-continent.

Ojha had Jonathan Bairstow caught by Gautam Gambhir at silly point at the stroke of lunch to place England at 298/4.

Ojha bowled a flighted delivery outside off, Bairstow lunged hard at it but only got a thick leading edge. It flew quickly to Gambhir at silly point who fumbled but managed to hold on to it on to his chest.

R Ashwin gave India the much-needed breakthrough when he had England captain Alastair Cook caught behind by MS Dhoni.

Ashwin tossed up a quicker delivery outside off, Cook pushed at it tamely and got a thin outside edge.

Cook hit a six and 13 fours in his brilliant 122-run knock and added 206 runs with Kevin Pietersen for the third wicket.

Taming Indian spinners, Cook and Pietersen each hit his 22nd century.

Cook and Pietersen joined Wally Hammond, Geoff Boycott and Colin Cowdrey as the top century makers for England.

Cook continued his excellent form with the bat reaching his century first with a superb cover drive for four against Harbhajan Singh.

This is Cook's fourth hundred against India and the second of the series after his superb 176 in the first Test in Ahmedabad.

Pietersen reached his sixth century against India with a reverse sweep for four against Harbhajan.

Brief scores
India 327 (Pujara 135, Panesar 5-129) and 117 for 7 (Gambhir 53*, Panesar 5-61)
England 413 (Pietersen 186, Cook 122, Ojha 5-143)
Status India lead by 31 runs