Sachin Tendulkar was threatening to make England pay for dropping him on 20 as India finished the first day of the third and final Test on 4 for 316 at The Oval in London.
Tendulkar was 48 not out and VVS Laxman 20 not out following an impressive 91 from opener Dinesh Karthik.
Tendulkar should have been back in the pavilion when he edged Ryan Sidebottom to wicket-keeper Matt Prior when India were 3 for 245.
But Prior, who conceded 21 byes on the opening day, let the straightforward chance spill despite getting both hands to the ball.
India, 1-0 up, have to merely avoid defeat in this match to win only their third series in England in 15 campaigns dating back to 1932.
England, by contrast, have to win to maintain their six-year unbeaten run in home Test series.
"We came back pretty well. It's a flat wicket and you have to get stuck in, bowl maidens and squeeze out wickets," England's Andrew Strauss said.
"We stuck at it pretty well. Hopefully we'll bowl them out for around 400 and look to get a big score ourselves.
"In the first session we didn't hit our straps as well as we could have done and after that it was just a case of hitting the right length and waiting for a false stroke.
"We had to be patient because if we became impatient that would play to their strengths."
It seemed as if India, whose captain Rahul Dravid won the toss on a belting batting pitch, were threatening to put the game beyond England's reach before the first day ended when they were 1 for 189.
But England, with James Anderson taking two wickets, fought back to have India 3 for 211 at tea. Tendulkar was 2 not out and Sourav Ganguly 8 not out in what could be both players' last Test in England.
Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar then saw Tendulkar, his childhood hero, strike him over extra-cover for four. Ganguly later drove Panesar for a straight six.
Source
Decent score by the Indians on the first day. Let's hope Sachin can get his 100 and put the game beyond Endland's reach.
England should have won the first test and India only need a draw to clinch the series 1-0.
Tendulkar was 48 not out and VVS Laxman 20 not out following an impressive 91 from opener Dinesh Karthik.
Tendulkar should have been back in the pavilion when he edged Ryan Sidebottom to wicket-keeper Matt Prior when India were 3 for 245.
But Prior, who conceded 21 byes on the opening day, let the straightforward chance spill despite getting both hands to the ball.
India, 1-0 up, have to merely avoid defeat in this match to win only their third series in England in 15 campaigns dating back to 1932.
England, by contrast, have to win to maintain their six-year unbeaten run in home Test series.
"We came back pretty well. It's a flat wicket and you have to get stuck in, bowl maidens and squeeze out wickets," England's Andrew Strauss said.
"We stuck at it pretty well. Hopefully we'll bowl them out for around 400 and look to get a big score ourselves.
"In the first session we didn't hit our straps as well as we could have done and after that it was just a case of hitting the right length and waiting for a false stroke.
"We had to be patient because if we became impatient that would play to their strengths."
It seemed as if India, whose captain Rahul Dravid won the toss on a belting batting pitch, were threatening to put the game beyond England's reach before the first day ended when they were 1 for 189.
But England, with James Anderson taking two wickets, fought back to have India 3 for 211 at tea. Tendulkar was 2 not out and Sourav Ganguly 8 not out in what could be both players' last Test in England.
Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar then saw Tendulkar, his childhood hero, strike him over extra-cover for four. Ganguly later drove Panesar for a straight six.
Source
Decent score by the Indians on the first day. Let's hope Sachin can get his 100 and put the game beyond Endland's reach.
England should have won the first test and India only need a draw to clinch the series 1-0.