India in command as Dravid hits ton
Rahul Dravid completed his 26th Test century as India relentlessly progressed towards an imposing first innings total and frustrate England's hopes of fighting back in the final Test.
The former India captain reached three figures midway through the morning session on the second day at the PCA Stadium to match opener Gautam Gambhir's achievement the previous evening.
Resuming on 65 overnight with India having already reached a commanding 179 for one, Dravid completed his century by clipping James Anderson for a single in the 19th over of the day's play which had been brought forward by half an hour to make up for the time lost to bad light the previous day.
It was Dravid's first century in 20 Test innings and helped guide India to an impressive 241 for one having extended his unbeaten partnership with Gambhir to 235 runs.
However, he was fortunate to survive before he had added to his overnight total when a full-length delivery from seamer Stuart Broad kept low and almost hit his off-stump.
It was a brief moment of alarm for the Indian batsman, who mostly progressed without discomfort with Dravid hitting Broad's next ball through mid-wicket for his first four of the day.
Opener Gambhir, who had resumed on 106 overnight, was punishing anything short and when left-arm spinner Monty Panesar was introduced he twice cut him for fours in his first over.
That over probably convinced England captain Kevin Pietersen to take the new ball but it failed to stem the run flow with James Anderson also being hit for two boundaries by Dravid in his first over back in the attack.
Six boundaries were hit in just 13 balls by India as England struggled to contain their strokeplay before Dravid finally brought up his landmark as India pressed on towards a massive total.
