India v England, second Test: as it happened

 India v England, second Test: as it happened:

Follow over-by-over commentary of the second Test between India and England at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.

Have these runs put an end to the Pietersen affair? What's the maximum England can chase in the fourth innings? Is it more than eight? And would you like to send me a drawing? Email alan.tyers@telegraph.co.uk

CLOSE OF PLAY: INDIA (327 and 117/7) lead ENGLAND (413) by 31 runs with three wickets in hand What a magnificent day of cricket. We saw another flawless century from Alastair Cook, his fourth in four Tests as captain, and an innings of genius from Kevin Pietersen. England then lost their last five for 31, handing back some of that hard-won advantage. But those two tons looked even better when the Indian batsmen struggled hugely on what looked like a minefield against Monty - who has five wickets - and Swann, who has the other two. India are effectively 31/7 and England must be red-hot favourites now. But if India could somehow get up to 100, England could yet find themselves nervy. Anyhow, we'll be here bright and early to see how it pans out. What a day. Cheers.

OVER 33: IND 117/7 (Gambhir 53* Harbhajan 1*) But Harbie turns the ball off his pads first ball. in the air but safely away from short leg. Swann drops too short and Gambhir cuts him away for four to bring up a hugely impressive fifty in tough conditions with wickets falling line nine-pins at the other end. He edges down to third man for two and that is the end of the day's play.

Derek Pringle: "100 might be a tester for England if they lost a few early wickets, though Ojha apart, India's spinners not bowled that well."

OVER 32: IND 110/7 (Gambhir 47* Harbhajan 0*) The batsmen crossed during that catch and Monty is able to keep Gautam down that end.

WICKET! Ashwin c Samit Patel b Panesar 11 After three singles - Gambhir looking increasingly assured - Ashwin decides to play another big shot. He drives but doesn't get all of it and the ball skews high into the air at extra cover where Samit Patel makes no mistake with the catch. FOW 110/7 and the brilliant Monty Panesar has ten in the match. He has 5/61 in this innings so far...

OVER 31: IND 107/6 (Gambhir 45* Ashwin 10*) Big shot from Ashwin, and why not? Down the track and he lofts the ball for six back over Swann's head.

OVER 30: IND 101/6 (Gambhir 45* Ashwin 4*) Monty. Better over from India releases some pressure as Gambhir gets four with a drive. Three behind square on the leg side for Ashers, nicely played. Two thoughts: that KP innings gets better with every unplayable ripper from Monty and Swann. And since Jimmy Anderson had Gambhir lbw in the first over on Friday, each and every wicket (bar a run out) has gone to spin. England's team selection in the first Test continues to stink the place out.

OVER 29: IND 94/6 (Gambhir 41* Ashwin 1*) Belting over from Swann. Big shout as Gambhir offers no shot but Tony Hill says no. Rips a ball past his edge now and there's no way any man of woman born could lay a bat on that. Maiden.

So what do you reckon England can chase? Here's John Portwood's opening bid. "Anything more than 75 would be iffy. What I find amazing is that England have discovered a new form of attack on the sub continent – 2 spinners! Wonder why no one has thought of this before."

OVER 28: IND 94/6 (Gambhir 41* Ashwin 1*) Ashwin is the next man to try his luck. Down the dancefloor first ball! Good feet for a big man and he defends on the move. Boy, you don't want to be missing it if you try that. Monty's celebration for that wicket was brilliant. He didn't do his normal run around, he just stood and applauded.

WICKET! Dhoni c Trott b Panesar 6 Ha, well that put the hex on India and no mistake. A perfect delivery from Monty, bit of dip and then it turns away from the bat, taking the edge. And would you believe it? Jonathan Trott has taken the catch at slip. FOW 92/6

OVER 27: IND 89/5 (Gambhir 36* Dhoni 5*) Single to each batsman and India look a tiny bit more comfortable in the last couple of overs. Since, you know, like they last lost a wicket ten minutes ago. You know what I mean.

OVER 26: IND 87/5 (Gambhir 36* Dhoni 5*) Five vital runs for India in that over, three of them from a nice Gambhir back-foot shot into the covers that ensures England will bat again. India are effectively 1/5

OVER 25: IND 82/5 (Gambhir 33* Dhoni 3*) Three singles in a Swann over of relative calm. Should Dhoni counterattack? Feels like there is a wicket coming every ball - maybe he needs to unsettle England. And a quick 40 could turn the tables, maybe? Get England worrying about chasing even a small target?

OVER 24: IND 79/5 (Gambhir 32* Dhoni 1*) MSD off the mark with a single. Gautam on strike. Another huge shout as England think they have a close catch but that hit the thighpad from where I'm sitting. Aleem Dar just tells everyone to cool their boots a little.

WICKET! Yuvi c Bairstow b Panesar 8 Yuvi dances down the pitch to defend another Monty dart but it turns back in, hits him on the glove, onto the thighpad and loops up for the simplest of simple catches to the handlebar-moustached Bairstow at short leg. FOW 78/5So with five wickets down, India still trail by 8.

OVER 23: IND 78/4 (Gambhir 32* Yuvi 8*) GG cuts for four, nice work, but Swann is at him constantly. Goes back to a full one, risky. Now one goes through teh top and turns sharply. GG survives the over. Boy, England don't want to be chasing too many on this.

OVER 21: IND 66/4 (Gambhir 27* Yuvi 1*) Yuvi comes to the crease on a pair. Swann spins a ball past Yuvi's edge. Close. Singh off the mark with a singh-le into the leg side.

WICKET! Kohli c sub (Root) b Swann 7 BWA-HAA-HAA! Sorry, you shouldn't laugh. But seriously. Swann bowls a pathetic full toss and for reasons that he may never really understand, Virat has bunted it straight into the hands of mid off. Oh heavens. Poor Kohli - what the hell was he thinking? A total freak dismissal. FOW 65/4

OVER 20: IND 65/3 (Gambhir 27* Kohli 7*) Monty serves up a full toss to Kohli and he cashes in. Now he slides a ball past the off stump and boy oh boy that didn't miss by much. Four byes. Huge appeal for lbw on the back foot and that looked dead out on first view, but hats off to Aleem Dar for spotting an inside edge.

OVER 19: IND 56/3 (Gambhir 27* Kohli 2*) Very full from Swanny to Gambhir and I think an inside edge saves hims from a good lbw shout. That's a probing maiden, Swann has the experienced left-hander in his sights but Gambhir is fighting tooth and nail. Superb sporting entertainment right here. Maiden.

OVER 18: IND 56/3 (Gambhir 27* Kohli 2*) Monty gets one to bounce on Gautam but it hits the deck before short leg can get under it.

OVER 17: IND 55/3 (Gambhir 26* Kohli 2*) Swann's nice and full to Gambhir but GG is on the case in this over. I think everyone at the ground is in mourning for the departure of Sachin. You could hear a pin drop. Kohli is on his way with a drive down the ground, well stopped by KP but they get two.

"You wrote 'And the Wankhede is stunned'," says Simon Welberry. "There's no need for name calling."

OVER 16: IND 52/3 (Gambhir 25* Kohli 0*) Wowee, that is a big moment. Sachin knew it right away. Plumb out, he fails again and India are in trouble here. Virat Kohli into the fray.

WICKET! Tendulkar lbw Panesar 8 He's done it! The great man is trapped plumb leg before. Straight ball from Monty around the wicket, it turns a little, just straightens really and Sachin, playing back, is pinned bang in front. Easiest lbw call you could ever make (well, apart from it being Sachin in Mumbai obviously) and the Wankhede is stunned. FOW 52/3

OVER 15: IND 52/2 (Gambhir 25* Tendulkar 8*) Both sides bang in the game in this super Test match, then, and Swann will kick off the final hour. Swann is looking to get Gautam trapped on the crease playing back, do him lbw with the quicker guzoner. He gets it wrong in this over when he drifts leg-side and Gambhir tickles it away fine for four. Decent lbw shout in the over as the plan works (nearly) with Gautam hopping like a bunny neither forward nor back. Umpire says it would have missed leg. And now big turn off ball six! Beats batsman and keeper both for two byes.

DRINKS Hello. Tyers here to take you through until the close. So two vital wickets there in that session, but how England would love to have another one back in the hutch before India overhaul the lead. For the home side, if they can somehow scratch through to the close of play and then stick on 150 more before tea tomorrow, they could well rattle England out in a couple of sessions if this pitch does go wrong.

OVER 14: IND 46/2 (Gambhir 21* Tendulkar 8*) Probing maiden from Monty to Sachin. It is a) time for drinks. And b) time for me to hand you over to Alan Tyers. Cheers.

OVER 13: IND 46/2 (Gambhir 21* Tendulkar 8*) Gambhir's approach to dealing with Swann is to drop back and play it late blocking at first then trying to cut one that only finds an Englishman's hands too quickly for him to get off strike. Another maiden and the sense that Swann is winning that particular duel on points so far.

OVER 12: IND 46/2 (Gambhir 21* Tendulkar 8*) Monty has looked to have Sachin's number so far but he's still class enough to spot one floated far too full and clear it down the ground and get off the mark with a fabulous four. And again when Monty gives him room to smack one away past square leg for another boundary.

OVER 11: IND 38/2 (Gambhir 21* Tendulkar 0*) Swann round the wicket to the the left handed Gambhir, as he likes it, Swann, not Gambhir. A maiden with the batsmen pinned down. This is England's time to really make themselves favourites for this one.

OVER 10: IND 38/2 (Gambhir 21* Tendulkar 0*) England on top now. Tendulkar looking troubled by Monty. Very, very untidy. No more so that when waiting for a TV review of a possible stumping. Prior was convinced he had Tendulkar, with the Little Master's back leg lifted high as a kite then taking it's time to get back down. You would be a brave, brave man to give him out on a marginal one, and it was very marginal. The TV umpire is not brave and keeps him in. The crowd like that. Prior does not. Impossible to call from what I've seen so no bother with backing the batsmen there. Just the one off the over.

OVER 09: IND 37/2 (Gambhir 20* Tendulkar 0*) Swann does come in to play now and his first ball gets an inside edge off Gambhir. It looped up and over Bairstow who flung himself backwards like a goalkeeper grasping at a ball in to the top corner he had no chance of reaching. Swann was on his toes ready to celebrate but it wasn't to be. Trying to go full and straight Swann then gift wraps a gimme for Pujara to smash one away for four. Compton then called to save another boundary but another pair for Pujara. But then, hello, what's this, it's very, very good news for England, that's what... Sachin sees off the final delivery.

WICKET! Pujara c Bairstow b Swann 9 Big, big wicket as Swann comes to the party and starts to enjoy himself. Pujara played forward to one that bit the turf, inside edge off the pad and was never in control. It looped up and Bairstow, who was, threw himself to scoop it up low. 37-2

OVER 08: IND 30/1 (Gambhir 19* Pujara 0*) Mixed over from Monty and made to pay for a couple of poor deliveries. But he won't care. A boundary from Sehwag and three from Gambhir. But then...

WICKET! Sehwag c Swann b Panesar 9 There's the breakthrough England needed. After being punished ealrier in the innings Panesar finds a beauty down the leg side that finds Sehwag's outside edge. Still needed a smart catch from Swann but he was up to it.30-1

OVER 07: IND 23/0 (Gambhir 16* Sehwag 5*) Anderson sends down a bouncer that Sehwag ducks without obvious concern, then follows up with a full one that again causes little worry. A big shout for lbw from Jimmy but no one else looked interested, especially the umpire, rightly, as it was far too high. A leg bye is all that comes. Compton and Trot combine in the deep to save a run at the ropes as Gambhir picks a stright one from Anderson.

OVER 06: IND 19/0 (Gambhir 13* Sehwag 5*) For a second it looked like Compton was poised to dive and snaffle up a leading edge from Sehwag off Monty. It dropped agonisingly short of him though and he never even got his knees dirty. Anderson should not be involved at the other end here, spin is the weapon of choice and the most destructive, even if Monty hasn't had any reward just yet. Alternate singles keeps India ticking but there is tension, however slight, in both batsmen there to be exploited.

OVER 05: IND 15/0 (Gambhir 11* Sehwag 3*) With the joy Monty is already getting off this track Cook must already be thinking of getting Swann involved early. As it is it's still Jimmy at the other end. Gambhir dances across the stumps for a single before a leg bye from Anderson to Sehwag. Anderson changes it up to go round the wicket to Gambhir who blocks before teasign one out to deep square leg to earn the single.

OVER 04: IND 11/0 (Gambhir 9* Sehwag 3*) Sehwag, with a new bat, gets under one and it floats up to off. No one there to make the most of it though and a single. This is looking good from Monty now. Gambhir nicks a single before Sehwag plays on to his pad and it carries, almost. Always on the way down and more like a quarter than half chance for Prior who gets a flick of gloves on it but no more. India dash for another couple of singles for four off the over.

OVER 03: IND 8/0 (Gambhir 7* Sehwag 1*) Cooks field placements is a long way short of attacking. Two slips and a gulley. Seems the captain is concerned about runs but surely wickets and quick wickets are the order of the day for England now. There is obviously a plan. We'll maybe find out what it is at some point...A swing and a miss from Gambhir to a bumper on the fourth ball of a tidy over from Anderson. Tidy until he sits one up for Gambhir to pull to the off side. He finds the middle of the bat and the ropes.

OVER 02: IND 4/0 (Gambhir 3* Sehwag 1*) Cook chucks the new ball to Monty. Bumble unhappy there is no one crowding Sehwag on the offside and the batsman uses the space to get off the mark with a simple single. Gambhir off and running, too, pushing a short one through cover. Another single for Gambhir at the edn of a comfortable over for the hosts.

OVER 01: IND 0/0 (Gambhir 0* Sehwag 0*) Anderson is given the duty of opening to Gambhir who completely ignores one well wide of off stump for starters. Anderson tightens up a touch after that but Gambhir still isn't interested, watching those that he can sail by and blocking the rest. Maiden for Jimmy.

08.50: Athers is tub thumping, to a degree, he reckons Monty and Swann have more in the locker on this pitch than their Indian opposite numbers. A fair shout.

08.42: Nasser drooling over KP's innings and rightly so, there were plenty of wonderful shots in a stunning innings. "There are shots you would tell kids not to play," says Nasser, "he's a bit weird and unique, but let's just let him be Kevin Pietersen..." Wise words. Reintergration complete for at least one former captain.

OVER 123: ENG 413 all out (Swann 1*) That's tea after the briefest of cameos from Monty who finds the ropes and then a man with near identical shots to bring the curtain down on the first innings. England have a lead of 86 with the pitch looking like it's doing plenty. Encouraging for England or a waste of an opportunity to build a bigger lead? We'll see...The last five wickets were sold for just 31 runs.

WICKET! Panesar c Khan b Ashwin 4 After a pushed single from Swann Monty got down and let fly with a sweep shot from off stump over square leg. No one there and a four. Next ball he tries exactly the same thing, with only one difference, there was a man there this time. Bah!

OVER 121: ENG 408/9 (Swann 0*) Anderson, who Bumble claims fancies himself as a batsman, gets off with an edge, short and wide which runs away to third man. A touch of fortune in that. But not in what happens on the final delivery after some scratchy defense. Decent over from Harahjan then...

WICKET! Anderson lbw Harbahjan 2 It's coming to a swift end on what was a promising day's play for England. A slightly quicker, fuller one from Harbahjan has Anderson retreating and it is called off his back leg, correctly.

WICKET! Broad b Harbahjan c 6 Pujara My word. What. A. Catch. Pujara's having a half decent sort of series, isn't he, eh? Broad comes forward to defend and it springs up off the deck on to his flat face of the bat. A short dink left the fielder with lots to do. And he did it incredibly well. The mood is turning as much as the pitch here now...406/8

OVER 120: ENG 406/7 (Swann0* Broad 6*) Broad kicks off with a neat single before some drama on the third delivery as Prior throws his wicket away. Swann sees off the remainign three balls of the over but it's looking slightly less rosy for the tourists than it was.

WICKET! Prior 21 run out A strong appeal from Ashwin from for lbw, Prior tries to use the confusion to sneak a quick single. Dhoni retrieved the ball and it was thrown back to where Prior had come from. He dived trying to scramble back but it was too late. England seven down and a silly way for Prior to give it up. His seventh run out for England who are now 406-7

OVER 119: ENG 405/6 (Prior 21* Broad 5*) Prior squeezes a torrent of sweat from inside his helmet by leaning forward and crushing the head gear against his skull. A beautiful sight. Harbahjan bowls his first maiden of the Test noteable only for a 'catch' off the batsmen's pads and one that got some bounce that spooked Prior but didn't threaten him.

OVER 118: ENG 405/6 (Prior 21* Broad 5*) Broad gets down low, a big effort for one so lanky, to paddle one up and over for two. And again for just the one. An encouraging intent from these two, England realising the need to keep the board ticking over and not lose the momentum in this innings. Typical scare for Broad with the final delivery that catches some bat as it squirts through the corridor but away to safety.

OVER 117: ENG 400/6 (Prior 19* Broad 2*) Bowling change and in comes the wicketless Harbhajan to replace Ohja. Prior tries the reverse sweep but it's too wide and he gets nowhere near it. A couple of defensive efforts before Prior goes the other way down leg to a short one and it sails to the boundary unfettered. A single off the next and England bring up the 400.

OVER 116: ENG 395/6 (Prior 14* Broad 2*) Ashwin to Broad and the England man is interested in nothing but defence. Final ball gets an awful lot of turn. Might have been a feather of an edge from Broad but it didn't carry so no danger. Decent stuff from Ashwin, and Broad for the most part too.

OVER 115: ENG 395/6 (Prior 14* Broad 2*) Powerful back cut from Prior off Ohja finds the boundary. Peach of a shot. He's in good nick this tour. Follows it up with a tidy single with another from Broad.

OVER 114: ENG 389/6 (Prior 9* Broad 1*) Life after KP at the crease begins with a decent enough six from it as England tick on. What sort of lead can they forge now and what do they need? Important few overs now and Prior will have to stick around.

OVER 113: ENG 383/6 (Prior 8* Broad 0*) The ball is doing plenty now and England cannot get rattled out here and throw away all the hard work. Big lbw shout first ball for Broad but he got outside the line I reckon. I am going to hand you over to Steve Wilson. Thanks for reading.

WICKET! Pietersen c Dhoni b Ojha 186 Ooh that is huge! The big man has gone. Bit of a loose shot to be honest, following a ball outside off with a rather airy drive and he feathers a little catch behind to a grateful (and relieved) MS Dhoni. FOW 382/6 Superb from Ojha, who has five wickets and has once again been head and shoulders above his colleagues. But what a magnificent innings from Pietersen, a wonderful mixture of discipline, creativity and brutality.

OVER 112: ENG 381/5 (KP 186* Prior 7*) Ashwin. Restored by a drink, KP sweeps and reverse sweeps, two runs for each. After a single, Prior gets off the mark with a class drive down the ground, and then a loft into the legside that was not without an element of risk. A single and that is 12 runs off the over. If Prior gets going in tandem with KP, England could take this away from India sharpish.

OVER 111: ENG 369/5 (KP 180* Prior 0*) Pietersen produes another sensational shot as he picks up Ojha and slog-sweeps him for a hugesix. What an innings this has been. He's back, baby. Back! LBW shout to a slider from Ojha but he is a long way down the track, and outside the line. Now Kev gets down to paddle the ball very fine, and picks himself up another four. Add in a driven single, and that 11-run over from this remarkable talent takes us up to drinks. England lead by 42.

Meanwhile, in Adelaide, South Africa have closed on 77/4 on day four in pursuit of a now-notional 430. AB de Villiers has faced 101 balls for 12, Faf du Plessis has made 19 from 74.

OVER 110: ENG 358/5 (KP 168* Prior 0*) Single for KP and cautious defence from Prior. Ashwin has half an lbw shout when Prior plays back and is hit on the pad. Going well down leg.

OVER 109: ENG 357/5 (KP 168* Prior 0*) Prior's first delivery is a carbon copy of the ball that did for Patel and Prior is frankly not good enough to get an edge.

WICKET! Patel c Kohli b Ojha 26 That is lovely from Ojha! This lad is some bowler. Produces a snorter that pitches and rips away from Samit, taking the edge and presenting the reliable Virat Kohli in the gully with a simple chance. Classy bowling and England lead by 30 with the FOW 357/5.

OVER 108: ENG 356/4 (KP 168* Patel 26*) Nice drive from Samit gives him four through cover. Samit now plays back to one that he probably ought to have come forward to, nd as it turns, he just manages to get enough on it to wobble the ball around the corner and down to fine leg for a boundary. Samit favours the back foot against these spinners. Ball seems to be doing a bit more in the last couple of overs.

OVER 107: ENG 346/4 (KP 167* Patel 17*) Unwise. Very unwise from Ojha. He decides to go over the wicket, searching for some rough, and Pietersen absoluetly brutalises that with a clump for six over extra cover. That was savage. He also runs the ball off the face for two - but Ojha comes back at him with a quicket ripper that spins away from the bat and beats the outside edge.

OVER 106: ENG 338/4 (KP 159* Patel 17*) Three off the Ashwin over.

OVER 105: ENG 335/4 (KP 159* Patel 15*) Ojha rips a ball past Samit's edge - did too much if anything. Maiden.

OVER 104: ENG 335/4 (KP 159* Patel 15*) Dhoni has seen enough from Zaheer and turns to Ashwin. Couple off the over.

OVER 103: ENG 333/4 (KP 158* Patel 14*) This is good stuff from Samit, I am really rooting for him myself. He was unlucky twice in the first Test. Now he turns a ball from Ojha into the leg side for a composed four. KP on his danger score. Beaut from Ojha off the last ball of the over beats Samit.

Hywel ap Rees writes: "Just curious - how many tests did Hammond, Cowdrey and Boycott play each year? If the ratio was the same as Cook and KP, they'd have scored 50+ tons." Well, Hammond played 85 Tests - the same number as it has taken Cook - but over a 20-year career. Cowdrey, 21 years. Boycott, as far as I can tell from his commentary, is still playing at the top level.

OVER 102: ENG 328/4 (KP 157* Patel 10*) Testing over from Zaheer but Patel is equal to it. Single to Kev.

Hey - this makes me very happy. A reader called Hannah Sibley has sent in a splendid artwork that reveals the real reason behing Kevin's muted century celebration.

OVER 101: ENG 327/4 (KP 156* Patel 10*) That's a good over for England, though. Pietersen has been quiet for a bit, sizing up Ojha and now he takes the fight to the Indian twirlyman. Lashes the ball through point where promising youngster Sachin Tendulkar cannot cut it off - and now he pings a slog-sweep for six, nailed that right out of the meat of the bat and, once you factor in a single, that makes 11 runs from the over and the scores are level. Kip also moves past 150.

OVER 100: ENG 316/4 (KP 145* Patel 10*) No reverse fron Zaheer but neither batsman is taking any liberties and there's just a single off the over.

The Gambhir-Bairstow incident, earlier

OVER 99: ENG 315/4 (KP 144* Patel 10*) Just a single off the Ohja over.

OVER 98: ENG 314/4 (KP 143* Patel 10*) Samit's on his way! He top edges a Zaheer bumper and that flies over the keeper's head for six. Not a true shot. But there's nothing wrong with this stroke from Samit as he glides the ball past point for four. Ten off the over. Apparently, according to the TV, the umpires asked Dhoni if he would care to recall Bairstow and have the decision overturned. Quite clearly the Indian team declined if that was the case, and rightly so in my opinion.

OVER 97: ENG 304/4 (KP 143* Patel 0*) Meaty whack over midwicket from Kevin as he gives Ojha something to think about. Four.

OVER 96: ENG 300/4 (KP 139* Patel 0*) Zaheer. Wide as a bouncer boings miles over KP's head, now Kev nudges into the offside and that's the 300 up.

OVER 95: ENG 298/4 (KP 138* Patel 0*) "Bairstow obviously doesn't know the laws," sniffs Bumble on the Sky TV. And indeed, if that did hit Gautam in grille, which it seems to have done, then that is a dead ball and not out. I think it would be a bit much for England to expect India to call Bairstow back. I mean, bad decisions do happen every now and again - are captains to call opponents back every time there's an iffy lbw? Anyhow, Ojha deals the three remaining balls in the over that did for Bairstow before lunch, and Samit blocks them.

06.35 The players are back out. We have a bit of drama to tell you about. It wasn't that clear at the time but on replay it looks like the Bairstow catch hit Gambhir's helmet. Apparently Flower was having a chat with the umpires at the interval but any hopes of an Ian Bell-style reprieve are dashed when we see Samit Patel walking out to bat alongside KP.

LUNCH ENGLAND 298/4 (KP 138*) Hmm. England were totally on top for 20 overs there as both Cook and KP passed 100 (each man now joining Hammond, Boycott and Cowdrey with 22 at the top of England's all-time centuries list). India looked pretty flat for most of it, but Ashwin produced a fine ball to dismiss Cook. Dhoni then kept shuffling his pack and, maybe unsettled by all the bowling changes, Jonny Bairstow fell on the stroke of lunch as he tried to play against the turn. Meanwhile, Pietersen has been superb: unorthodox but disciplined, and looking like an absolute class act on 138*. Even after a good morning, though, England trail by 29 and the worry would be that quick wickets could leave England vulnerable. The pitch has not gone any worse over the last day or two, but you really would think that England need to get their runs in the first innings. Anyhow, it's now down to KP, with Samit and Prior, to pile it on and keep the Indians out there in the field. Lunch now, or breakfast for me, so see you in a bit.

WICKET! Bairstow c Gambhir b Ojha 9 Oh dear. That is a blow for England and a blow for the young man's career as well I fancy. Dhoni makes yet another bowling change and brings on Ojha. Bairstow reaches a long way forward and tries to turn the ball against the spin. This is not a wise move at all. He gets a leading edge and it pops up to Gambhir at silly point. Good catch to cling on to that. Bairstow has failed and England are FOW 298/4 ... and that's lunch.

OVER 94: ENG 298/3 (KP 138* Bairstow 9*) More changes as Yuvi comes on. KP cuts him hard for four. Creaky bit of fielding from poor old Harbie on the boundary but he cannot get down to stop it.

OVER 93: ENG 294/3 (KP 134* Bairstow 9*) Dhoni rings the changes, Ojha off after just one over and Ashwin on. Bairstow reads the carrom ball off the pitch and drives it pleasingly through the offside for four. Two tweets now which I think demonstrate the voice of experience and the bubble in which England players live.

England batsman James Taylor: "First day off today after a hard weeks training! The question now is what to do??? ?#sunbathing? #tv? #corridorgolf?"

Derek Pringle: "@jamestaylor20 get out and see how the rest of the world lives - indian markets fascinating places."

OVER 92: ENG 289/3 (KP 133* Bairstow 5*) Pietersen pushed to Sachin at mid on and takes him on. Easy single. England will be wanting to keep these old boys out in the field for as long as possible. Surprise bouncer from Zaheer, and it's a slippery one. Bairstow hooks at it and gets four, very fine, off the top edge. More or less in control of the shot but I am not 100% convinced by that. Zed follows up with a full swinging ball but Jonny is equal to it.

OVER 91: ENG 284/3 (KP 132* Bairstow 1*) Ojha comes on in place of Ashwin. Bairstow gets off the mark with a single to midwicket. Now KP tries to hit down the ground but does not get hold of it. The ball is in the air - but it lands safe around the mid off region.

OVER 90: ENG 281/3 (KP 130* Bairstow 0*) Waste-of-space over from Zaheer as both batsmen are allowed to just watch the ball drift well wide. A single.

Andrew Mcneilis writes on the subject of Pietersen: "Great question and greetings from a cold Whitechapel where my infant of insomnia has been up watching a class display with me. The reality is that it should silence critics however there are certain elements in this sordid character assassination who will strive to find another angle to discredit this great talent."

OVER 89: ENG 280/3 (KP 129* Bairstow 0*) Ashwin. Single to Kev as he sweeps and three dots balls for Jonny.

OVER 88: ENG 279/3 (KP 128* Bairstow 0*) Time for the new ball. Time for Zaheer. Friendly leg stump ball first up that swings, but KP can easily help that on its way to the fine leg boundary. Bairstow leaves his first three well. Big test (and big Test) for Bairstow. Meanwhile down in Adelaide, the Saffers are 48/4 and in all sorts.

OVER 87: ENG 274/3 (KP 123*) Earlier in the over, Cook had driven an Ashwin half-volley away for four, but he has fallen to the sixth delivery of the over. Kohli shakes Cook's hand as he walks off. England trail by 53.

WICKET! Cook c Dhoni b Ashwin 122 Oh dear, that is a real shame. A very good delivery from Ashwin, it pitches just about off stump, a tiny bit quicker and takes a bite out of the pitch as it spins away. Fine edge of Cook's bat on the way through and a regulation catch at the wicket from Dhoni. FOW 274/3

OVER 86: ENG 269/2 (Cook 118* KP 122*) Yuvi gets away with a full toss, but Kevin cuts a short ball for two. That's the 200 partnership. Yuvraj looking very much like a part-timer in these couple of overs. Surely Dhoni will have to try Zed with the new ball soon?

OVER 85: ENG 266/2 (Cook 118* KP 119*) With two singles to Cook's one, Kevin has moved ahead of his skipper in this Ashwin over.

OVER 84: ENG 263/2 (Cook 117* KP 117*) Time for the pie-chucker. Can Yuvi psyche KP out once more? Not in this over. Too short and too wide too often, and Yuvraj owes Rahane thanks for saving a boundary with a fine stop at cover. Still, only one off the over as Kevin's single moves him level with Cook.

OVER 83: ENG 262/2 (Cook 117* KP 116*) Ashwin continues with his spell but there's no worries at all for Cook and Pietersen as they collect two singles each. Will we see the new ball soon? Dhoni needs to do something here, because Pujara's hard-won advantage is backsliding fast.

OVER 82: ENG 258/2 (Cook 115* KP 114*) Harbhajan continues after drinks and there is a single to each man.

OVER 81: ENG 256/2 (Cook 114* KP 113*) Ashwin is not doing it for me AT ALL this morning. He cannot bowl two balls in a row on the correct side of the wicket - full toss down leg, wide outside off, doesn't seem to be bowling with any sort of plan. After a couple of singles, Kevin steps down the pitch to loft him for six over long off. That takes us to drinks, the first hour was comprehensively England's.

OVER 80: ENG 247/2 (Cook 113* KP 105*) Harbie. Kev's starting to do that whippy reach shot from outside off to leg. Only for singles as yet but signs that his confidence is improving by the over. NOT TO JINX IT OR ANYTHING but England are cruising along very nicely indeed now. Even so, they still trail by 80.

Meanwhile, in Adelaide, it is tea and South Africa have suffered another huge body blow. Amla has fallen, and they are 40/2 chasing 430. The forecast for tomorrow is 60% chance of rain, though, I am told...