Third Test: Sachin Tendulkar hammered a majestic 185 not out and put on 249 runs with century-maker Saurav Ganguly as they demolished England's attack in the gathering gloom of the third Test at Headingley yesterday.
The pair gorged themselves in a runs frenzy in the final session, refusing to accept the light in murky conditions as India raced to 584 for four by the close of the second day.
The final session was so spectacular that Rahul Dravid's 148 earlier in the day and Tendulkar's 30th test century to overtake Don Bradman's career total were almost forgotten.
At the height of the carnage the left-handed Ganguly smashed left-arm spinner Ashley Giles for four, six, six, four off consecutive balls, 23 coming off that over, before he was finally bowled for 128 in the twilight by Alex Tudor.
With that, the umpires decided the conditions were unplayable and halted the violence. England had taken the new ball shortly before the end and conceded 91 off 10 overs.
The home side traipsed off at the close looking dejected and weary, having conceded 348 runs in the day for just two wickets and knowing they will face a marathon battle to save the game against India's spinners.
India's "Big Three", in England captain Nasser Hussain's words, had "come to the party" to save the second Test at Trent Bridge, Tendulkar then making 92, Dravid 115 and Ganguly 99.
They returned to the festivities yesterday, only India will be pressing for victory this time to level the four-match series.
Tendulkar had been level with Bradman in the all-time list of Test century makers at the start of the day. Only India's Sunil Gavaskar, with 34 Test hundreds, has scored more.
The touring side had resumed on 236 for two, Tendulkar on 18, after the first 55 minutes were lost to rain. They quickly upped the pace after what had been a pedestrian first day.
INDIA - first innings
(overnight 236 for 2)
S Bangar c Stewart b Flintoff 68
V Sehwag c Flintoff b Hoggard 8
R Dravid st Stewart b Giles 148
S Tendulkar not out 185
S Ganguly b Tudor 128
V Laxman not out0
Extras (b-14, lb-13, w-5, nb-15)47
Total (for four wickets, 173.1 overs) 584
Fall of wickets: 1-15, 2-185, 3-335, 4-584.
To bat: A Agarkar, P Patel, A Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan.
Bowling (to date): Hoggard 36-12-102-1 (nb-4), Caddick 37-5-139-0 (nb-6), Tudor 32.1-10-113-1 (nb-3), Flintoff 27-6-68-1 (nb-2, w-5), Giles 39-3-134-1, Butcher 1-1-0-0, Vaughan 1-0-1-0.
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