India vs England, Second Test match, Day 3: Moments of the day

England put India on the mat, applied pressure and got the results on Day 3 of the second Test here. A look at some of the crucial moments of the day.

Careless India, fearless England

India began Day 3 with spin at both ends and could have had early wickets if not for shoddy fielding and field placements on their part. MS Dhoni should have had an extra close in fielder initially to put more pressure of Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook. KP edged one early on but no fielder meant just an easy couple. In the same over, R Ashwin's lethargic throw and Dhoni's poor collection not only resulted in an overthrow but Pietersen could have been run-out too, and quite easily at that.

Engand took full advantage of India's slackness smashing 78 runs in the first hour of play. What could have been joyful became a pain.

KP cuts loose, India fetch leather

He had been under scrutiny, he was the thorn of all eyes even in England's dressing room, he seemed out of form in the first Test match. It would definitely have been difficult for Pietersen to claw his way back literally from the dead but he did not do any of that. Instead he chose to smash his way back. Captain Cook ably supported him but KP was absolutely masterful in his knock. Playing against the spin and with it, at will, and in conditions supposedly alien to the visitors, it was nothing short of brilliant.

Tail fails to wag

Once R Ashwin managed to finally remove Cook (122) and KP too began looking a bit weary, the home fans sniffed some sort of a respite. While Pietersen did manage to go on and score 186, the rest of the innings was hardly much to speak of.

Apart from Matt Prior (21) none of the other lower end batsmen managed to reach the double figure mark.

India's 2nd innings or a phone number written vertically?

England's tail may not have managed to resist the bowlers but Indian batsmen in their second innings sure did put them to shame. Consider this: 9, 6, 8, 7, 8, 6, 11. This was what the scorecard read barring a fighting Gambhir who remained unbeaten on 53.

Monty Panesar claimed five wickets and each of his victims had a clueless look before and after being dismissed.