Tendulkar falls short of Test ton

Resuming the second day on an already commanding 316 for four, India wanted to bat England out of the Test and secure the draw they require to claim their first series win on English soil since 1986.

But after a frustrating start to the morning session, which included another dropped catch from under-fire wicketkeeper Matt Prior, England's attack finally enjoyed some overdue success as the tourists reached a daunting 429 for six at lunch.

Still smarting from their failure to take their chances on the opening day - when Prior made the error of dropping Tendulkar on 20 - England knew they needed early wickets if they were to remain in contention as they defend an unbeaten home series record stretching back to 2001.

It took 12 overs into the morning by the time England finally made the breakthrough, however, to the considerable relief of Prior - who had made another error potentially as costly as his drop of Tendulkar on the opening day.

VVS Laxman had progressed quickly from his overnight 20 to reach 41 with a series of early boundaries when he failed to move his feet and edged left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom towards Andrew Strauss at first slip.

Just as Strauss prepared to take the catch, Prior dived in front of him and deflected the ball to the third man boundary to increase England's frustration.

Laxman responded to the escape by pulling Chris Tremlett for four to bring up his half-century off only 65 balls, but added only one more run before becoming England's first victim of the day when he pushed at the same bowler outside off-stump and edged behind to Prior's great relief.

Tendulkar - who brought up the 45th half-century of his illustrious career in only the second over of the morning - had progressed to 82 when, four overs before lunch, James Anderson tempted him into pushing at a ball outside off-stump and he edged low to Strauss at slip.