India in control as Tendulkar passes 11,000

NOTTINGHAM, England, July 28 (Reuters) Sachin Tendulkar became only the third man to score 11,000 test runs as he helped India take control of the second test against England on the second day at Trent Bridge today.

India surprisingly accepted the umpires' offer of bad light with six overs remaining even though they were in complete command at 254 for three after bowling England out for 198 before lunch.

Tendulkar, who was struck on the grill of his helmet by a James Anderson bouncer when on five, struggled initially but steadily gained in confidence. At the close he was on 57 with Sourav Ganguly on four.

England endured a tough day, though they at least gave themselves some hope of avoiding a first home test match loss in 13 months by dismissing India captain Rahul Dravid (37) moments before the close.

India are currently well placed to win the match and the three-match series. They have not won a test series in England for 21 years while the home side are trying to protect a sequence of six years without a series loss.

India began the day brightly when England, resuming on 169 for seven, added just 29 more runs. Left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan finished with figures of four for 59 and Anil Kumble had three for 32.

Their innings was given the perfect foundation through an opening stand of 147 between Dinesh Karthik (77) and Wasim Jaffer (62) but they did have their share of fortune among some majestic stroke-play.

Karthik on 29 survived a scare when his cover drive was dropped by Anderson though it was a tough chance a fraction off the ground.

Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar was introduced in the 29th over and almost made an instant breakthrough.

Karthik, who had scored 44, missed his attempted sweep and was hit on the pad in front of middle stump but umpire Ian Howell rejected the appeal.

Jaffer also had his share of luck, edging Chris Tremlett to gully where he was dropped by a diving Ian Bell when he had scored 32.

Four runs later he survived another Panesar lbw appeal.

Jaffer was first out when he edged a lifter from Tremlett to wicketkeeper Matt Prior and Karthik, who was almost run out backing up at the non-striker's end, was eventually caught at short-leg by Alastair Cook off Panesar from the first ball after tea.

Dravid's promising innings ended when he drove Panesar to a diving Bell at short extra cover.

Reuters BJR GC2329