India v England 3rd Test, Day 2: Panesar Wrecks Hosts and Cook Scores Another Century

England continue to dominate India in the third and final Test at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The hosts resumed play on the second day from their overnight score of 273/7 but despite a fighting half century from captain MS Dhoni (52), the Indians were swiftly dismissed for 316. England's reply was led by captain Alastair Cook, who is enjoying an absolutely sensational tour and registered his third century from the last four innings. At close of play on the second day, England were 216/1, with Cook unbeaten on 136 and Nick Compton dismissed for 57. The hosts lead by 100 runs.

Earlier in the day the Indian lower order were rattled out for just about 50 runs, with Ravichandran Ashwin (21), Zaheer Khan (6), Ishant Sharma (0) and Pragyan Ojha (0 not out) contributing only 27 runs between the four of them. And had it not been for Dhoni's invaluable 27th Test 50, the home crowd would have even less to cheer about than they do now... and right now they have nothing to be happy about.

For England it was Monty Panesar at the head of the queue once again. The left arm spinner is in a rich vein of form and the best praise he could possibly receive is that he consistently troubled the Indian batsmen, in home conditions and on a flat track, to finish with 4/90 from 40 overs. At the other end, it was paceman James Anderson who completed the charge, picking up 3/89 from 28 overs. Graeme Swann managed only 1/46 from his 16 but took two critical catches - one to dismiss Dhoni and the other to send middle-order anchorman Virat Kohli (6) back to the pavilion.

Any hopes of an early wicket for the Indian bowlers were dispelled after Cook and Compton put on a masterful display of Test batting. The visitors' first pair was in complete control of the situation and apart from a few missed chances (Cook was dropped by Ojha, off Khan's bowling, for 17), there was no respite for the Indian bowlers.

The first (and only English wicket of the day) fell with the score at 165, when Compton misread a slower ball from Ojha. There was a bit of controversy over the decision though, with doubts over the type of dismissal; he was eventually given out LBW.

England will resume play on Friday with Cook and Trott (21 not out) looking to add as many runs to their total as possible. The pitch at Eden Gardens normally starts turning about midway through the third day, meaning the Indian spinners could become a handful to deal with as play progresses through the day. But then again, that's what England believed in Mumbai... and it didn't seem to affect them too much.