Throughout this series a century has eluded the Indian batsmen, and the one of the more unlikely candidates — Anil Kumble, playing his 118th Test — notched up one as the visitors buried England under an avalanche of runs to take the crucial third Test unequivocally away from the hosts' grasp.

Kumble's maiden Test hundred and a brutal innings from Mahendra Singh Dhoni helped India to score a mammoth 664 in their first innings after resuming from their overnight 316 for four. In reply, England were 24 for one at close on the second day.

The 36-year old Bangalorean's innings was a reminder of his abilities with the bat as he played like a frontline batsman. Initially, Kumble played second fiddle to the ultra-aggressive Dhoni during their sixth wicket alliance, adding 91 runs in no time.

Once Dhoni departed, Kumble marshaled the lower-order well and was at ease against all the English bowlers to reach the landmark after a moment of panic. While Dhoni's daredevil innings took the spirit out of the home side, Kumble's knock drove into them the truth — the futility of expecting to level the series — with chilling finality. Kumble added a record 73 runs for the tenth wicket partnership with Sreesanth and nothing illustrated the haplessness of English bowlers.

Earlier, it was the pyrotechniques from Dhoni that helped India to gain momentum after the departure of Sachin Tendulkar and V V S Laxman. The Jharkhand batsman started his tenure with a cautious approach and some tentative prods at the away going deliveries. Dhoni changed gears after Tendulkar's dismissal and cut the English attack into pieces. He displayed a particular liking for Monty Panesar as the left-arm spinner struggled without any assistance from the pitch, which settled into a batting beauty. However, one point about the pitch might interest Kumble.

Track wear
When Panesar was able to land the ball on the rough near batsmen's feet dust flew around in considerable measure, an ample indication the wear this track would undergo in the subsequent days and that might just suit Kumble fine.

There was no dearth of entertainment as long as Dhoni was the crease. The burly wicketkeeper batsman initially trained his eyes on Chris Tremlett before shifting his focus on Panesar.

Dhoni's bristling aggression forced Panesar to adopt defensive tactics. But Dhoni was smart enough to tap the balls to the gaps for singles and doubles.

The ineffectiveness of his regular bowlers prompted England skipper Michael Vaughan to hand the ball to part-time tweaker Kevin Pietersen. Dhoni welcomed him to a rather unfamiliar role with two huge sixes. Those massive shots carried Dhoni into the 90s, and a century appeared inevitable. But Dhoni was, perhaps, in a hurry to reach the target and tried to hoist Pietersen over the ropes, but his venture ended in the hands of James Anderson in the deep.

India's run glut had started in the morning session with Tendulkar and Laxman, the latter in particular, playing some magnificent cricket. Laxman had traded his magical wand of a willow for a heavy iron rod in recent months that made him a woeful sight to watch. But much to the delight of people around, the artist in him resurfaced on the day in emphatic fashion.

There were those patented wristy flicks on the on side that rocketed to the fence, those punches through the covers, synonym of timing and precision too was on the show as he completed his second fifty of the series.
The only black spot of his innings was an edge off Ryan Sidebottom that was spilled by Matt Prior. It, however, was an unnecessary interference from the stumper as the ball travelling straight to Andrew Strauss at the slips. Laxman could not exploit the reprieve as he soon edged a delivery that swung marginally away from Tremlett to Prior and this time the 'keeper did not make any mistake.

Laxman milked 78 runs for the fifth-wicket alliance with Tendulkar, who looked set for a big one till Anderson shaped one away from the Mumbaikar that he guided into the hands of Strauss. But England's joy was shortlived as Dhoni and Kumble battered them into submission.


INDIA (I Innings):

Kaarthick c Prior b Sidebottom 91
(218m, 151b, 10x4 1x6)

Jaffer c Pietersen b Anderson 35
(71m, 47b, 6x4, 1x6)

Dravid b Anderson 55
(130m, 101b, 8x4)

Tendulkar c Strauss b Anderson 82
(299m, 192b, 11x4)

Ganguly lbw Collingwood 37
(128m, 77b, 4x4, 1x6)

Laxman c Prior b Tremlett 51
(103m, 79b, 8x4)

Dhoni c Anderson b Pietersen 92
(120m, 81b, 9x4, 4x6)

Kumble (not out) 110
(266m, 193b, 16x4, 1x6)

Zaheer  c Anderson b Panesar 11
(75m, 52b, 1x4)

RP Singh c&b Anderson 11
(16m, 21b, 2x4)

Sreesanth c Vaughan b Panesar 35
(50m, 32b, 6x4, 1x6)

Extras (B-33, LB-13, W-2, NB-6) 54

Total (all out in 170 overs) 664

Fall of wicket: 1-62 (Jaffer), 2-189 (Dravid), 3-199 (Kaarthick), 4-276 (Ganguly), 5-354 (Laxman), 6-417 (Tendulkar) 7-508 (Dhoni), 8-570 (Zaheer), 9-591 (RP Singh)

Bowling: Sidebottom 32-8-93-1, Anderson 40-5-182-4 (w-1), Tremlett 40-6-132-1 (w-1, nb-5), Panesar 45-5-159-2, Paul Collingwood 7-1-11-1 (nb-1), Pietersen 6-0-41-1.

ENGLAND (I Innings):
Strauss c Sreesanth b Zaheer 6
(19m, 13b, 1x4)

Cook (batting) 12
(35m, 24b, 2x4)

Anderson (batting) 5
(16m, 12b, 1x4)

Extras (NB-1) 1
Total (in 8 overs, one wicket) 24

Fall of wicket: 1-12 (Strauss).

Bowling: Zaheer Khan 4-2-12-1, S Sreesanth 3-0-11-0, Kumble 1-0-1-0 (nb-1).