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London: So far England have made India's batsmen dance to their pace and swing; now, they are making them sway to Graeme Swann's song. If the off-spinner continues to twist and spin, it may well trigger the swansong for at least one or two Indians.
As the shadows lengthened and the ball started biting, Swann finally pulled out his act: he first elicited a sharp deflection off Rahul Dravid's unflagging willow; then he lured Virender Sehwag out of his den and whizzed one through his stunned bat and pad.
James Anderson joined the party soon enough, ensnaring VVS Laxman with an unplayable beauty, to leave India gasping at 124 for three. By close of play, India had inched to 129 for 3 in the second innings, still needing 163 to make England bat again.
Or else, they will need to bat through the fifth day to save the fourth Test and avert the whitewash. Sachin Tendulkar, looking for his elusive 100th century, was still at the crease on a cautiously crafted 35. For company, he had night-watchman Amit Mishra (8) who bravely hung on for six overs. It can be a thrilling last day or the most painful yet.
Until Swann cast his mesmerizing spell, though, the day belonged to Dravid. Like a true warrior battling in a different zone, he single-handedly held the relentless England attack at bay for over 379 minutes. He carried the bat through, becoming only the third Indian to do so, and promptly padded up for another skirmish.
Sadly for him, Swann had already sniffed blood: he had picked up three wickets in the first innings and now wanted more. He was introduced in the seventh over itself; it immediately raised an alarm in the Indian camp.
Pitching the ball way outside the off-stump, he made it zip and snap at the stumps. Off his third delivery itself, he fooled umpire Rod Tucker into believing that he had extracted an edge. But Dravid immediately sought the third umpire's intervention, and survived.
Six overs later: similar ball. Similar shot. Similar decision. Clearly, Tucker didn't hear any edge; the infra-red camera too didn't catch it. But the third umpire strangely went by instinct, and paying heed to the deflection, declared out. India were now firmly in the hot spot.
Dravid, though, was the master of the occasion till then. Shedding the angry mien that he came out with on Saturday, he gave another exemplary display. Playing late, he hit the ball to all corners of the park, from late cuts to pulls and drives to flicks. Batting never looked so facile. The problem, though, was at the other end.
His overnight partner, MS Dhoni, lasted just under an hour; Amit Mishra (43) was much more cheeky and adventurous, and even raised hopes of an almost improbable escape. India were 224 for 7 when he got out, still needing 177 to avert the follow-on. Then, of course, Gautam Gambhir walked in, with the new ball a few overs away.
Dravid was still in supreme touch, batting regally on 110. Together, they played out nearly 20 overs and added 40 runs to bring the magical number (392) into the equation again. Sadly, because of Gambhir's concussion, they had to sacrifice many easy runs. After a little cameo from RP Singh, India finally touched the 300-mark for the first time in the series. Four balls later, it was all over. England expectedly inserted India in again, hoping to go for the kill.
Sehwag lashed out at the first delivery and barely escaped another golden duck; the ball took the inside edge and darted past the stumps and behind the keeper for a boundary. He settled down thereafter to execute a few trademark shots. But by now Swann was singing.
Brief scores
England 591 for 6 dec
India 300 (Dravid 146*, Bresnan 3-54) and 129 for 3 (Tendulkar 35*)
Status India trail by 162 runs
