BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Dravid stars for India

Final Test, The Oval, day three of five (stumps): India 315-4 v England 515 all out

Rahul Dravid's third consecutive Test century was the highlight of the third day at The Oval as India replied to England's first innings 515.

The home bowlers applied the brakes during the evening session, allowing just 55 runs in 29.2 overs before bad light brought an early close, and gaining a fourth wicket in Sourav Ganguly.

But Dravid stood firm, facing 316 deliveries for his unbeaten 131 to lead India to within a single run of avoiding the follow-on.

VVS Laxman was his partner for the fifth wicket, never settling against short-pitched tactics with the older ball and the left-arm spin of Ashley Giles.

But he survived four overs of the second new ball to reach 14 not out from 74 balls.

Disappointment

Dravid's innings follows scores of 115 at Trent Bridge and 148 in India's series-tying win at Headingley.

Having taken just 88 deliveries about his first half-century, he sat back while Sachin Tendulkar took charge for much of the morning.

Tendulkar was widely expected to become the fifth batsman to reach three figures in his 100th match.

But he was disappointed to fall for 54, lbw to Andrew Caddick, struck on the foot by a full toss.

Sourav Ganguly joined Dravid in a fourth wicket stand that resembled a one-day international, putting on 82 in 20 overs to go to tea 260 for three.

Sachin tendulkar dismissed
Tendulkar's 54 was an anticlimax for expectant fans
But the evening session was a dramatic about-turn. Ganguly survived a possible catch at short leg from the second ball after the break and never looked the same.

His wicket for 51, top-edging a pull off Dominic Cork to wicketkeeper Alec Stewart, vindicated a tactic of bowling short with fielders in catching positions behind the bat.

Cork bowled eight overs after tea, conceding 19 runs, while Giles, who for the most part took an attacking line around the wicket, bowled 12 overs without reward, allowing just 22.

Half an hour into the day, Sanjay Bangar's tentative spell at the crease came to an end as he was caught off Matthew Hoggard at first slip.

The opener had faced 84 deliveries for his 21, a single boundary adding to his overnight total.