Alastair Cook slams century but England fumble on Day Four

 

 Alastair Cook scored his 21st Test century and held fort to take England to 182 for three at Lunch on Day Four, while Pragyan Ojha began his journey through the English batting order. The tourists still trail India by 149 runs.

After resuming his innings on 74 not out, Cook drove and cut the Indian spinners on his more educated backfoot before flicking Umesh Yadav down the leg-side to become the first Test captain to score a century in his first three matches as skipper. The 27-year-old now has 21 Test hundreds; only Sachin Tendulkar, with 25 tons, had more at this age.



As he was in the first innings, Cook (109 not out) was a rock at the top of the order and gave nothing to the Indians, as the wickets tumbled around him.



His overnight partner, Nick Compton (37), was the first to go. Zaheer Khan trapped the right-handed opener in front after adding just three runs to his total.



Pragyan Ojha, who picked up a fifer in the first innings but had had no luck so far in the second, then switched ends and seemingly also switched on, catching Jonathan Trott’s (17) outside edge. Dhoni took a sharp catch behind the sticks and retributed for his missed stumping earlier on. The Indians had their first breakthrough at 123 for one.



Out came Kevin Pietersen (2), for a second go at the Indian bowlers after a disappointing first innings. But the comeback man was to fall for the 25th time in his Test career to a left-arm spinner as Ojha bowled him around the legs. It was a rash shot to play given the circumstances, as Pietersen tried to to sweep Ojha playing inside the line, and paid the price.



Ian Bell (11 not out) was next in, and he didn’t commit hara kiri first ball this time. He kept Cook company for the 40 minutes left before the lunch break and prolonged India's wait for that coveted victory.



Brief Scores: India 521 for 8 dec. (Cheteshwar Pujara 206, Virender Sehwag 117; Graeme Swann 5 for 144) lead England 191 (Alastair Cook 41, Kevin Pietersen 17; Pragyan Ojha 5 for 45, R Ashwin 3 for 80) and 182 for 3 (Alastair Cook 109*, Nick Compton 37; Pragyan Ojha 2 for 54) by 148 runs.