London, July 24: An unbeaten century from Matt Prior and 74 not out by Stuart Broad wrangled the advantage away from India after Ishant Sharma had put England on the back-foot with three wickets in the first session. With a 162-run stand, the right-left batting pair helped England set India a target of 458 runs for victory.

At the end of fourth day’s play, India had scored 80 runs for the loss of one wicket in 27 overs with nine wickets in hand and Rahul Dravid (34 runs) and VVS Laxman (32 runs) at the crease.

After England’s declaration, Dravid was sent to open the innings for India with Abhinav Mukund in the absence of Gautam Gambhir who had bruised his left hand while fielding. Continuing with his good form, Broad dismissed Mukund for just 12 runs. With Sachin Tendulkar unable to bat at that point due to his extended absence from the ground while fielding owing to illness, Laxman joined Dravid in the middle at the fall of Mukund’s wicket.

Earlier, as India took the field on Day 4, Praveen Kumar gave them the first breakthrough with the wicket of Alastair Cook who edged the ball to wicketkeeper MS Dhoni. But Andrew Strauss and Jonathan Trott looked strong in the middle until Harbhajan Singh struck to get the skipper out leg before. That set the ball rolling for India.

After having failed to get hold of the English conditions in the first innings, Ishant Sharma got his act together to help India restrict England’s march in the second innings. Bowling a fuller length, the 22-year old pacer ran through the England middle-order claiming a four-for to keep in India in the hunt.

In the second over of his second spell, Sharma got the better of Kevin Pietersen (1run) and Ian Bell (0). And a little later, he bowled Trott for 22. Ishant picked the three scalps in a span of just 16 deliveries conceding only one run to bring India back in the game.

An inspired spell from Sharma, ably supported by Kumar and Harbhajan Singh, saw England tottering at 72 for the loss of five wickets at lunch and an all-out situation seemed a distinct possibility.

The Indians took the field post-lunch with a spring in their step. Ishant did well to break the 45-run Eoin Morgan-Matt Prior partnership. Trying to pull a shortish delivery from Ishant, Morgan found Gautam Gambhir at mid-wicket. However, Stuart Broad, who had replaced Morgan at the crease, added 67 runs with Prior to extend England’s lead to 362 runs at tea.

Although the three Indian bowlers rose to the occasion and also made up for the absence of Zaheer Khan, the fielding let the visitors down on more than occasion. Dropped catches, missed half-chances and extra runs conceded while fielding cost India dearly. While Broad got a life from Dhoni off Praveen Kumar earlier in his innings, a mis-hit from Prior fell safely between the Indian fielders. Suresh Raina too bowled a few overs and Dhoni brought himself on in the post-tea session.

If the first session belonged to India the final session was the most productive for England as Prior and Broad slammed the Indian bowling attack. Stuart Broad, who had helped his team’s cause with the ball on Day 3, came good with the bat on Day 4. Once Prior reached his century with a boundary, England declared their second innings on 269 for six.

Brief scores (At end of Day 3): England 1st innings 474/8 in 131.4 overs decl.(Kevin Pietersen 202, M Prior 71, Praveen Kumar 5/106), India 1st innings 286 all out in 95.5 overs (Rahul Dravid 103*, Abhinav Mukund 49, Stuart Broad 4/37, C Tremlett 3/80). England2nd innings 269/6 in 71 overs decl. (Matt Prior 103*, Stuart Broad 74*, Ishant Sharma 4/59), India 2nd innings 80/1 in 27 overs (R Dravid 34*, VVS Laxman 32*)