India set England record target to win test

LONDON, Aug 12 (Reuters) England survived a tricky spell against India today as they began pursuit of a record 500 to win the third test and draw the series.

Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss guided the home side to 56 without loss and England now need to bat briskly through the final day if they are to have any chance of pulling off an unlikely victory.

India, who only need a draw to claim their first test series victory in England for 21 years, declared their second innings on 180 for six after skipper Rahul Dravid chose not to enforce the follow-on on day four.

Cook was on 27 and Strauss, who has not scored a test century since last August, was 23 not out.

The openers faced 20 overs before the close as they sought to make some impression on the huge target. They require another 444 runs but more likely face the prospect of losing their first home test series since 2001.

Pundits criticised Dravid for not making England follow on and pushing for a 2-0 series win but the Indian skipper wanted to snub out any chance England had of victory by using up more time and increasing the target.

SLOW TORTURE Dravid himself inflicted slow torture on England when he scored 12 runs in 140 minutes for the slowest dozen runs scored in test cricket in terms of minutes taken, according to statisticians.

He appeared inhibited by the loss of three early wickets which left India reeling on 11 for three. Opener Wasim Jaffer was adjudged lbw for a duck by James Anderson in yet another dubious decision by umpire Ian Howell.

Dinesh Karthik was caught at second slip off Chris Tremlett for eight and then master batsman Sachin Tendulkar scored one before he played on to Anderson, who had figures of two for naught from his first four overs.

Saurav Ganguly counter-attacked either side of lunch for 57 from 68 balls until he edged Paul Collingwood to slip and gave Strauss his 50th test catch.

While Ganguly batted fluently, his skipper could not get going. When the 50 stand with Ganguly was raised his share was five from 53 balls while Ganguly contributed 45 from 46.

When Laxman moved to five in seven minutes at the crease, Dravid had been batting for 125 minutes for the same score, receiving ironic cheers from the crowd when he passed that mark.

Dravid's 96-ball stay ended when he edged a Collingwood outswinger to Strauss.

Anil Kumble claimed the final wicket of England's first innings at the start of the day to give him his 564th test victim and take him ahead of Glenn McGrath in the test wicket tally behind only Muttiah Muralitharan (700) and the retired Shane Warne (708).

England were bowled out for 345 with the 10th wicket between Tremlett and Monty Panesar worth 40. India scored 664 in their first innings after winning the toss.

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