MUMBAI — India was staring at an embarrassing defeat in the second Test against a spirited England who rode on Kevin Pietersen and Alastair Cook's brilliant centuries to gain a vital 86-run lead before the spinners tightened the noose around the host in Mumbai Sunday. Pietersen (186) and Cook (122) notched up their 22nd Test centuries on a turning track as England folded up for 413 just at the stroke of tea before reducing the host to a precarious 117 for seven at close on the third day. After conceding an 86-run lead, India's top order batsmen surrendered rather tamely to the English spinners who exploited the conditions far better than their Indian counterparts. Gautam Gambhir (53) and Harbhajan Singh (1) were at the crease with India just 31 runs ahead on a day which saw as many as 15 wickets fall on a Wankhede pitch giving ample assistance to the spinners. Virender Sehwag (9), Cheteshwar Pujara (6), Sachin Tendulkar (8), Virat Kohli (7), Yuvraj Singh (8) captain M.S. Dhoni (6) and Ravichandran Ashwin (11) were back in the pavilion, much to the disappointment of a huge Sunday crowd. Monty Panesar, who claimed five wickets in the first innings, was the chief destroyer with another five-for as India's famed batsmen fell prey to the left-arm spinner who extracted a lot of spin and bounce. Earlier, the Indian spin attack, led by Pragyan Ojha, captured eight England wickets to bowl out the visitors for 413, but the hosts conceded a lead of 86 runs. Cook notched up his second century, making 122, while his predecessor Pietersen hammered his way to 186 to put England ahead of India. England, which resumed at its overnight 178 for 2, was dismissed eight minutes before the scheduled tea forcing an early break to the proceedings. Left-arm spinner Ojha was the pick of the Indian attack though he was punished a bit by Pietersen before having his revenge and had figures of 5 for 143, his second fifer in as many Tests. He was the standout bowler, though he got the stick from Pietersen who carted him for three out of the four sixes he struck. Ashwin got the important breakthrough to end the double century stand between Cook and Pietersen by sending back the former before terminating the innings for figures of 2 for 145 while Harbhajan Singh, wicketless till his 21st over, got two in six balls to end up with 2 for 74. England lost its last four wickets in a heap for the addition of just seven runs once wicketkeeper Matt Prior was run out at 406. — Agencies
