England fluff their lines after promising start

ENGLAND won't lose this match, and therefore they won't lose the series, and that is about the only crumb of comfort from a chastening few hours yesterday.

- By TOM EVANS

A day that started well for the hosts, then looked like getting even better, ended up as their worst of the series outside of the thrashing they took at Edgbaston.

Securing a 311-run lead then taking two wickets in the first over of the reply should have lit the blue touchpaper; instead it merely brought together Shubman Gill and KL Rahul for a bloodless unbroken stand of 174 across more than 62 overs.

And with rain forecast for this morning, India are in a perfect position to save the Test when they could have been condemned to a series defeat long ago.

Take nothing away from Rahul and Gill, who batted beautifully. The only chance either gave was a flashing drive by Gill off Brydon Carse, spilled at backward point by Liam Dawson just before tea, when he was on 46.

Dawson bowled 132 balls yesterday, and 132 times he theatrically threw his hands to the sky in feigned excitement - in reality, he never looked like creating a chance as good as the one he spurned.

Against two right-handers on a wearing pitch with the field in, this should have been the slow left-armer's chance to shine - instead, Rahul and Gill smothered everything the Hampshire man could twirl at them.