Nagpur, Dec 16:
Jonathan Trott and Ian Bell played sensibly, adding 67-run stand giving visitors an edge over India on the fourth day and final Test here today.
Trott and Bell were unbeaten at 66 and 24 respectively to help England with comfortable 161/3 at stumps on the penultimate day with a total lead of 165 runs.
R Ashwin gave India first breakthrough by dismissing skipper Alastair Cook in the post-lunch session on the fourth day of the Nagpur Test.
Ashwin got Cook caught behind at the score of 13. Cook, however, looked disappointed with the dismissal as TV replays suggested that Cook missed the delivery by a long distance.
Pragyan Ojha got rid of Nick Compton for 34 at the stroke of Tea to reduce England to 81 for 2.
Earlier, India managed just 29 runs in an hour before declaring their first innings at 326/9, which left them four runs behind England, in a display of bizarre tactics.
Trott played a valuable knock as he scored a fine half-century to frustrate India.
England picked up the pace after Kevin Pietersen’s dismissal with Trott and Ian Bell started hammering boundaries to put pressure on Indian bowlers.
India kept themselves afloat in the match after dismissing dangerous Kevin Pietersen.
Pietersen, who made patient 73 in the first innings, got clean bowled by Ravindra Jadeja in the similar manner as Jonathan Trott lost his wicket earlier in the match. (UNI)