India were staring at anembarrassing defeat in the second cricket Test against aspirited England who rode on Kevin Pietersen and AlastairCook's brilliant centuries to gain a vital 86-run lead beforethe spinners tightened the noose around the hosts here today.
Pietersen (186) and Cook (122) notched up their 22nd Testcenturies in a masterly exhibition of batsmanship on a turningtrack as England folded up for 413 just at the stroke of teabefore reducing the hosts to a precarious 117 for seven atclose on the third day.
After conceding a 86-run lead, India's top order batsmensurrendered rather tamely to the English spinners whoexploited the conditions far better than their Indiancounterparts who inexplicably lacked the sting.
Gautam Gambhir (53) and Harbhajan Singh (1) were at thecrease with India just 31 runs ahead on a day which saw asmany as 15 wickets fall on a Wankhede pitch giving ampleassistance to the spinners. Virender Sehwag (9), CheteshwarPujara (6), Sachin Tendulkar (8), Virat Kohli (7), YuvrajSingh (8) captain M S Dhoni (6) and R Ashwin (11) were back inthe pavilion much to the disappointment of a huge Sundaycrowd.
Monty Panesar, who claimed five wickets in the firstinnings, was the chief destroyer with another five-for asIndia's famed batsmen fell prey to the left-arm spinner whoextracted a lot of spin and bounce.
The day clearly belonged to Pietersen and Cook who tiltedthe balance in England's favour with a record 206-runpartnership for the third wicket, eclipsing the previousrecord of 144 between Mike Gatting and Allan Lamb in 1984-85.
Cook, who struck his second successive century, anchoredthe innings while Pietersen was the more aggressive partner asthe pair frustrated the Indian spinners. Pietersen neverallowed the spinners to settle down as he kept the scoremoving with a flurry of shots.