London, Aug 21: Rahul Dravid played yet another gallant knock in India’s first innings but England nonetheless moved closer to a series whitewash against their struggling opponents on Day 4 of the final Test between the sides. The hosts bowled India out for 300 in their first innings despite a magnificent 146 from Dravid and then reduced them to 129 for three in their second innings at the end of the day. The hosts are now just seven wickets away from a memorable 4-0 win against the displaced world No. 1 side.

India resumed from a first innings score of 103 for five on Day 4. After having struck two half-centuries at Edgbaston, MS Dhoni disappointed by falling for just 17; the Indian skipper nicked a delivery from James Anderson to Matt Prior to give England their first breakthrough of the morning.

However, that was the only wicket of the first session as Rahul Dravid found an able lieutenant in Amit Mishra as the two got together to defy the English attack. Dravid, in sublime form right through this series, brought up his third century of the tour off 168 deliveries.

Mishra complemented Dravid well with a cameo of his own. He faced 77 deliveries in all, a stubborn approach characterising his 87-run partnership with Dravid for the seventh wicket. His 43-run resistance was eventually ended when Ian Bell pulled off a superb reflex catch at short square leg off Tim Bresnan’s bowling.

Mishra’s wicket brought Gautam Gambhir out to bat in the unfamiliar No. 9 position; the Indian opener was forced to bat down the order following the concussion he suffered while fielding in the England innings. It was a courageous statement by Gambhir but he clearly looked uncomfortable right through his innings; his running between the wickets was hampered as was his shot-making ability. The English pacers peppered him with short deliveries and the batsman eventually succumbed to Stuart Broad. India were 264 for eight at the fall of Gambhir’s wicket.

After Mishra and Gambhir, along with Dravid, had delayed the end of India’s first innings, it was RP Singh’s turn to do his bit. The tail-ender played an entertaining 23-ball 25 before he was caught by James Anderson at third slip off Tim Bresnan’s bowling. Two deliveries later, S Sreesanth drove a delivery from Bresnan straight to Eoin Morgan at short cover.

Sreesanth’s dismissal meant that Dravid was left stranded on an unbeaten 146. India reached 300 for the first time in the series but that was clearly not enough in the context of the game; Andrew Strauss had no hesitation in enforcing the follow-on.

India’s second innings began on a better note as Virender Sehwag managed to survive more than just the first over. The dashing opener whose previous three innings scores in this series read 0, 0 and 8, made a fluent 33 before he was bowled by Graeme Swann.

However, just a few overs before Sehwag’s dismissal, a controversial passage of play occurred in which Rahul Dravid (13) was adjudged caught at short leg by the third umpire; the batsman was given out despite the inconclusive nature of the TV replays.

With both Indian openers back in the pavilion at 64 for two, VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar put on a 52-run stand for the third wicket. James Anderson then knocked over Laxman’s off stump to give the hosts their eighth wicket of the day.

Sachin Tendulkar (35*) and Amit Mishra (8*) were holding fort for India at stumps with the score at 129 for three. The visitors still trail the hosts’ first innings score by 162 runs.

Brief scores at end of Day 4: England 1st innings 591/6 decl.in 153.0 overs(Ian Bell 235, Kevin Pietersen 175, S Sreesanth 3/123); India 1st innings 300 all out in 94.0 overs (Rahul Dravid 146*, Tim Bresnan 3/54) and India 2nd innings 129/3 in 35.0 overs (Sachin Tendulkar 35*, Graeme Swann 2/51).