Kumble hits ton as India post 664

Anil Kumble hit his maiden Test hundred as India posted a mammoth 664 on day two of the third and final Test against England at the Oval on Friday.

If India was in control at close of play on day one, on day two they completed England's subjugation.

At stumps, England was 24 for one with Alaistar Cook and James Anderson in the middle. Andrew Strauss was the man out. He was caught by S Sreesanth off a Zaheer Khan delivery for six. Defintitely, not the start his skipper would have wanted.

India's innings was reminiscient of the 2002 Leeds Test when India had posted 628 for eight and recorded an innings victory - the first against England. In that match, the three stalwarts of Indian cricket Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid had each scored a century.

What was, however, keenly different this time was the partnerships that each of the wickets strung together, right from one to ten.

India started the day at the overnight score of 316 for four and added 348 runs on Friday, most of which came in fantastically entertaining fashion.

Sachin Tendulkar, overnight on 48, completed his 45th Test fifty. But it was VVS Laxman who lit up the morning with some excellent strokeplay. The Hyderabadi, who was dropped by Matt Prior on 41, made 51 before falling to Chris Tremlett.

The two were involved in a 78-run partnership.

Tendulkar and Mahendra Singh Dhoni continued to torment the England bowlers. The Bombay Bomber, who had been dropped on 20 by Prior on Thursday, finally fell for 82. He was caught by Andrew Strauss at first slip off a James Anderson delivery.

Dhoni played in Twenty20 fashion as he smashed 92 from just 81 balls. He played without a care in the world and lit up the Oval with some breathtaking shots inlcuding two consecutive sixes off Kevin Pietersen before going for the third and being caught by Alastair Cook in the deep. His knock was studded with nine boundaries and four sixes.

Dhoni and Anil Kumble put on 91 runs for the seventh wicket.

The hosts would have thought that with all the specialist batsmen back in the pavillion, they would get a reprieve, but Kumble had other plans.

Kumble and Zaheer Khan put on 62 runs for the eighth wicket before the Indian pacer was caught by Anderson off a Monty Panesar delivery. Anderson then held a catch off his own bowling to send back RP Singh for 11.

But Kumble batted resolutely, hitting some excellent shots on the off side to bring up his maiden test hundred. His unbeaten knock of 110 included 16 boundaries and a six.

Kumble's prior best was 88 against South Africa, almost a decade ago. He was ably supported by S Sreesanth who hit a 32-ball 35 before being the last man out. He was caught by Michael Vaughan off the bowling of Panesar.

All the England bowlers toiled hard. Anderson was the most successful with four for 182 from 40 overs.

India lead the three-match series 1-0 and this commanding performance may just be enough to give them a series win in England in 21 years.