Kevin Pietersen's ninth Test century left India facing an uphill task after the fourth day of the Lord's Test.

Pietersen hit a six and 14 fours in his 134 before England were all out for 282, with seamer RP Singh taking 5-59.

It left India with a victory target of 380, but they lost Wasim Jaffer and skipper Rahul Dravid cheaply.

Monty Panesar then claimed the prized wicket of Sachin Tendulkar for 16, but Dinesh Karthik (56) and Sourav Ganguly (36) saw them to 137-3 at the close.

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the fourth day

e-mail tms@bbc.co.uk (with 'For Tom Fordyce' in the subject) or use 606

By Tom Fordyce

1859: India 137-3
C'est tout - just one from Siders' final over of the day, and we'll go into the final day with the match teed up splendidly. 243 needed for an India win, seven wickets for an England one. Fancy joining me around 1030 Monday?

1855: India 136-3
Ganguly fends off more Tremlett lift, and it could be time for a change for England - one final toss of the dice before close.

1851: India 133-3
Karthik sweeps Monts for two, and then gets lucky as an attempted repeat flies just over the close-in fielders. India need 247 more to win. It's as well-balanced as horizontal set of scales.

1846: India 128-3
Tremmers plays Ganguly some sweet musique du chinne. The first one smashes into his gloves, the next is cut uppishly past the diving Bell in the gully and the next is fended off past shortish square leg. England hunting a final scalp before stumps are drawn.

From Carolyn, Leamington Spa: "Mark Smith - I'm not sure having a first class degree in English means you are then able to create and enforce arbitrary rules in the language. I have a law degree, would that mean I am therefore able to interpret law as I see fit? I think I'd make Michael Winner illegal."

1840: India 122-3
Dabber from Karthik finally brings him his half-ton. Some lovely shots in there early on, but he's pulled back into his shell in the last hour. 101 balls, seven fours.

1837: India 119-3
Tremmers tries going round the wicket to Gangools, but gets his angles a touch off and is flicked to fine leg for four. Looking increasingly settled, the prince.

1833: India 115-3
"He's going nowhere here," chirps Prior, as Karthik eyes up Monty's meze. He's semi-correct - Karthik remains on 49 after Sourav's single.

1829: India 114-3
Jim takes a blow, and Tremmers is the man to step up to the plate. A mere three singles. Long shadows stretch across the hallowed green.

1826: India 111-3
Hmm. Monty 0, Gangools 1 - the bearded demon drops short and the smooth-chinned patrician cuts late for four.

From Simon Vaughan in Edinburgh: "I give up. If, as a Vaughan, I can't get published on the subject of the name Vaughan, what subject can I get published on?"

1822: India 108-3
Jimmy's not getting much swing, so he's dropping a touch shorter against Karthik and aiming to unsettle him with some juicy business. Good thinking, Batman.

From Ian Macleod: "Mark Smith - which university is it that gives first class degrees to people who form arguments like that?"

1818: India 106-3
Mont v Gangools pt II - a spitter takes bat-pad, flies to Bell's left at silly mid-off and glances out of his thrusting fingers. Next up, the prince steps away and drives with sweet, sweet timing through point for four.

1814: India 100-3
Nice from Karthik - stepping away and upper-cutting Jimmy to the empty spaces at third man.

From Jon R: "Good explanation Tom, but what was the lump of coal for?"

Jon - the power cut obviously put out the electric fire, so the birthday boy decided to spark up the coal fire.

1810: India 96-3
Monty v Gangools, and already it's shaping up in splendid fashion - a screamed appeal when Sourav pads up outside off which Bucks thinks about but rebuffs, and then a panicky lofted drive for four high over mid-on.

From Scott in Newcastle: "How many syllables in 'who cares'?"

1806: India 90-3
Brief pause for beverages. Jimmy A has some spice in his - he whistles a nose-crusher just past Karthik's lid.

From Mark Smith: "I have a 1st class degree in English Language Studies. 'Vaughan' has only one syllable. End of argument."

1800: India 90-3
Prior's chirp is getting right up Karthik's snout. The opener starts to walk up to Bucks to have a moan, but Gangools meets him halfway and shoves him back angrily. Prior's eyes light up, and the chat pours out of his smiling trap at double the speed and volume.

From Jon R: "Sorry Tom, why was the man wearing a blindfold if there was already a power cut?:

Simple John - it was his birthday party, he was playing Pin The Tail On The Donkey and the power cut intervened. It's happened to us all.

1756: India 89-3
Gangools glides in, with England still cockahoop after Monty's magic moment. Jimmy takes him on and has him jumping like a helmeted flea.

From Adam Czarnowski: "It's either a voiced labiodental fricative followed by either a long "o" sound (sounds like or) or a dipthong short o followed by schwa (sounds like oar) terminated by a voiced alveolar stop. And you thought cricket terminology was daft."

1749: WICKET - Tendulkar lbw Panesar 16, India 84-3
Shiver me Tom timbers - what a moment for Lord Mont of Montshire! Two balls after being flayed to the cover boundary, he flights one beautifully, finds some in-drift and traps the little master just about in front. Monty loses it completely, cantering backwards like a foal on speed and waving his flappy hands around with bug-eyed joy. Could that be the turning-point?

1746: India 79-2
Good from Jimmy, until a slider down leg keeps on going and going and going... past Prior's beseeching palm and all the way to the fine leg fence.

From 'gwyliwr': "Vaughan was originally Welsh - bychan - meaning little. It becomes fychan when used in a name and Vaughan when the English try to pronounch it. So two syllables, no doubt."

1742: India 75-2
Fantastic over from the Montmeister. Took him a while to dig out his mojo, but it's greased up and firing on all cylinders now - and Karthik as lost as a blindfolded man trying to find a lump of coal in his cellar during a power cut.

1739: India 75-2
Jimmy works away at Sachin, who really fancies this one. Beautifully poised, non?

From Rob: "All this talk of lexis led me to notice that your friend Mr Dirs has the distinction of having monosyllabic fore- and sur- names, whereas yourself and that fellow this morning are grammatically much better endowed."

1736: India 73-2
Maiden from Mont, and Sachin had to think about that little lot - he nearly punts back a c&b and then whips a dangled blade from the flight of a teasing off-break.

From Chris R in Barwell: "To Gary in Newcastle: How do you explain the word rhythm?"

1733: India 73-2
Jimmy it is, and just a single from the tufty-haired Lancman.

1729: India 72-2
Montezuma goes too flighty against Sachin and is popped behind square. Looks like Jimmy A's loosening up for another pop - action stations from Skipper Vaughan.

From Andy in Twickenham: "To add further confusion to the argument, I reckon 'Vaughan' is one syllable but three phonemes - `v', 'au' and 'n'. Your mouth moves to three different positions as you say it."

1725: India 69-2
Lovely little battle developing here between Tremmers and, er, Tendulkers. The big man nearly squeezes one between bat and pad before the little one waits on a fuller one and glides it to the deep square leg boundary with the effort levels of a baby elephant swishing its tail.

From Gary in Newcastle: "A syllable is made up of a nucleus - usually a vowel and is surrounded by optional consonants. So by Adam Lambert's way Bell has two syllables which is clearly wrong - it only has one whereas Vaughan has two vowel clusters surrounded by consonants and therefore two syllables. Back to school for you Adam."

1721: India 64-2
Chants go up from the Indian supporters in the crowd as Tendulkar times Monty to the point boundary with unfathomable grace. He barely touched that.

1717: India 59-2
Tremmers ties it up. Of course he does.

From Fig Dooley: "Re: Gary in Newcastle. Vaughan is actually one syllable but two phonemes. To count the syllables in any word simply place your hand under your chin when you speak and the number ot times you feel your chin move up and down equals the number of syllables."

1710: India 58-2
Standing ovation for Sachin as he jogs down the pavillion steps. Vaughan brings on Monty for his first twirl of the day - no-one's forgetting the identity of Mont's first ever Test wicket. Tendular flicks to midwicket to get going with a two.

From Simon Hitchens: "Not sure Vaughan counts as two syllables, but then again it seems like it should be ranked as more than one. The last bit just kind of disappears on your breath though, dissipating into nothing just as you think it�s about to get going. Bit like Vaughan in a one day game really."

1705: WICKET - Dravid lbw Tremlett 9, India 55-2
Massive wicket for England - and a highly questionable one too... Tremmers moves one in to the skipper, whose pad seems to be outside off when he's struck, but Umpo Taufel raises his index anyway. Whoa - that looked high as well...

From Adam Lambert: "V + G + H = three syllables - back to school for you sunshine..."

1659: India 51-1
Jimmy strains, and Karthik flicks him in the air through the spot in midwicket that KP's just abandoned. Not going as England hoped, this innings - you look at that Indian batting order, and it's longer than one of Tremmers' legs.

From Gary in Newcastle: "Re Jenny Berki's 'is Vaughan the longest cricketer's name containing just one syllable' - not really as it has two syllables - 'Vaugh' and 'an'."

1656: India 47-1
I tell you what - if you need a very tall man to tie an end up for you, Tremmers is your man. Not sure about his sharply-angled sideburns, but he's young.

1652: India 46-1
The Wall, is it? Dravid thrashes his first ball square for a lightning four, tries the same with the next one but misses and then glides one down to third man for another boundary. Eight off three balls. Mind you, I'm sure you'd worked that one out for yourselves.

From Paul in Maidstone: "In primary school we were playing kwik cricket, and I hit a shot that got the ball stuck in the hedge - oddly there were no boundaries so I scored a good 50 runs off that one shot whilst they dug it out."

1647: WICKET - Jaffer c Pietersen b Anderson 8, India 38-1
Michael Vaughan, take a bow - the switch of Jimmy reaps dividends instantly as Jaffs plonks one carelessly straight into KP's mitts at midwicket. England needed that - you were beginning to wonder where the wickets were going to come from. Here comes Skipper Dravid...

1644: India 37-0
More steepling bounce from Tremmers, but he's squeezed away for a couple. Looks like Anderson might be switched to the Nursery End in place of Siders. No sign of Mont magic so far.

From Michael in South Shields: "As much as I enjoy being a spectator, I've only played cricket once. I went to watch my mate play for Whitburn when I was 13 and they asked me to bat at 10 because they were short. I faced the last ball of the innings and prodded it away for a terrified single. Has anyone else had such a short, yet succesful, cricket career?"

1638: India 34-0
Siders looks weary - he beams one miles past Jaffs' off-peg, but then recovers with a nice away-wobber.

From Jenny Berki: "An idle thought - Is Vaughan the longest cricketer's name containing just one syllable?"

1633: India 31-0
Time for a Tremmo here - England haven't had a sniff of the breakthrough, and Vaughan's not a man to let things drift. The lanky Hants debutant delivers from the off, posting a maiden with heaps of bounce. Nice.

1628: India 31-0
Karthik's batting like a legend - there goes another dreamy-creamer of a cover drive, and Siders looks stumped. The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that a rather unfortunate typo has been hastily corrected. I'm on a yellow card already after taking most of this morning off for that cheeky race - a stinker of an error like that and I'd be a goner.

1624: India 22-0
Beautifully poised, this one - one ball after an off-radar Anderson in-swinging booms down leg for four byes, Karthik gets on the front peg to cream another cut-out-and-keep drive to the cover fence. No rain forecast this evening, and the crowd are well aware they're in for an old-fashioned ripper.

1620: India 14-0
Siders strays a fraction down leg and the Indian openers stroll a pair of leg byes. Busy buzz around the ground, and why not?

1615: India 12-0
Jimmy over-stretches and Karthik smashes a classy drive through point for four. On reflection, being threatened by a teddy-bear could be nasty - those glassy, sightless eyes, the stitched-shut mouth slowing opening to show ginormous molars, the paws grasping at your throat...

1612: India 7-0
Siders again, and there's the in-swing he was missing first over. Jaffa the Rock blocks one back to his feet, and Siders pretends to fling it back at his head. If an Australian had done that, it would have been smeared in menace - but with cuddly old Siders, it's like being threatened by a teddy-bear. Karthik flashes an outside edge high over the slips for a streaky one to third man.

1608: India 2-0
That's the stuff from Jimmy - right on line, little bit of wobble, and a stifled appeal when Karthik gets a skinny edge onto his pad. Where do we see this one going?

1605: India 2-0
Here we go - Siders takes the new ball, but doen't find much swing first up and Jaffer gets India rolling with two through mid-wicket. Not much swing there - hmm.

ENGLAND INNINGS

1538: WICKET - Panesar lbw Singh 3, Eng 282 all out:
That's your lot - Monts is fooled by Arpy's in-dipper, and England are done and dusted. Singh bags his first Test five-for, and 380 will be India's target. They'll nibble a spot of tea now, with battle recommencing around 1600. Should be useful...

1536: Eng 282-9:
Shackles of responsibility cast off, England's final pair go on the attack. Monts flays Kumble high over wide mid-on for three, before new man Jimmy A leans back casually to cream a vintage back-foot drive through cover for four. England's lead stretches to 379.

1532: WICKET - Pietersen b Singh 134, Eng 275-9:
Alas - the fun is over, and that's been coming for a wee while as KP played ever more adventurous shots in search of fast runs. He finally plays on as he attempts to blazaam RP into one of Saturn's rings, and leaves the field to a standing ovation. Tremendous innings, wrestling control of the match back from India in brutal fashion.

1528: Eng 275-8:
Brief lull in the madcap action, with Mont still not off the quacker but defending defiantly.

1524: Eng 274-8:
KP turns down four successive easy singles as he seeks the big biffer that won't quite come. He finally takes one off the fifth ball, and Mont once again holds on. Not quite as prolific as KP had hoped, this partnership

From Fred Lane in Stockholm: "I must say that I find it difficult to follow the action on your Test coverage, what with the likes of Romik Arconian cluttering up the page with random messages."

1520: Eng 272-8:
KP deals with Kumble with lordy disdain, leaving Mot to survive the last two after deigning to stroll a single. Mont, as enthusiastic as a young puppy, keeps his part of the bargain.

1516: Eng 271-8:
KP, desperate to keep the strike away from the happily-flailing Monts, plays it safe for the first four balls of Zaheer's tester. He then cracks a drive to the sweeper on the cover boundary for two and, with the field up to halt the single, pops Zaheer away merrily for a three to deep midwicket. He's absolutely loving this.

1512: Eng 266-8:
Tremendous reception for Montague as he skips to the crease. Kumble then baffles the bearded one completely with two googles, a top-spinner and a deceitful looper. Ooohs from the crowd.

1506: WICKET - Sidebottom c Dravid b Kumble 9, Eng 266-8:
He gets his man this time, fooling Siders again with the top-spinner, taking the edge and celebrating with decorum as skipper Rahul makes a tricky pouch to his left look most casual.

From BBC Sport's Oliver Brett at Lord's: "Well, what do you know? A whole crate of the soft drink Kevin Pietersen famously promotes has just been delivered to the media centre at Lord's. One assumes there would not have been such a generous gesture if Pietersen had got out for a duck. I'll stick to the coffee, thanks."

1501: Eng 264-7:
Siders' hair is bursting out from under his helmet like milkshake from an lid-free blender. He plays and misses at two successive Kumble googlies and then cuts him with D'Artagnan relish for four. Kumble then does him all ends up with another google, and Siders snicks it for another four past Dravid's desperate digits at slip.

From Romik Arconian, Paris: "This is supposed to be a mobile latest score update. Every time i want an update, the page being so large and full of random messages, from so and so in somewhere, it takes an age and costs a fortune, especially on international roaming, to get score. Could there not be a version where jinx and nonsense are minimised?"

1455: Eng 254-7:
Even KP's gone a touch tizzy after those dizzy moments of drama - he attempts to flick-sweep Kumble over his own left shoulder and balloons a near-chance past Dhoni, and then arrests a lofted drive just in time to avoid a caught-and-bowled. Under the playground 'one hand, one bounce' rule, he'd have been in big trouble.

From Michael in Lancs: "According to Wikipedia, being run out without facing a ball is also referred to as a diamond duck. They could have thought of an original term, with it being so ridiculous - Toilet Duck would suffice?"

1449: Eng 251-7:
Siders in to face Zaheer's hat-trick ball, the ground roaring him on - and he survives by a fraction, jabbing down frantically on a vicious yorker. Tremendous little burst of play, and if you're not enjoying this ding-donger of a Test, you have a black hole where your heart should be.

1446: WICKET - Tremlett b Zaheer 0, Eng 251-7:
Blimey - that didn't last long - Tremmo plays on first ball, and he's bagged a pair on his Test debut...

1445: WICKET - Prior c Dhoni b Zaheer 42, Eng 251-6:
Zaheer strikes, running one across Mini-KP and getting the outside edge. Good snag from Dhoni, and England's rampant progress is halted.

1440: Eng 251-5:
Prior wants his turn in the spotlight, and he cracks a looper high over midwicket for a one-bounce four. England's last 50 runs have come off just 43 balls. You've got to be liking them apples. Drinks break here - why not do the same?

From Mark in Somerset: "I'm the guy who e-mailed earlier who got run-out without facing a ball. I'm just interested to see if anyone knows what that is called because a first ball duck is a 'golden duck' and a first ball of the innings duck (or first ball of the game I'm not sure) is a 'diamond duck'. But what if you're out for 0 without facing a ball? Which sort of duck is that?"

1436: Eng 246-5:
I say declarations - he's got his binoculars out and is scanning the sky like an an anxious twitcher. No dangers up there for once - it's all little fluffy clouds and occasional rays.

1431: Eng 244-5:
Prior's like KP's Mini-Me, albeit with a smoother pate - he waits for a short one from Kumble and almost vapourises the ball, so hard does he hit it. Four more, and Michael Vaughan's thoughts turn to declarations.

From Luke in London: "Possible Twenty20 Khan XI theme music: MC Hammer's 'Khan't Touch This'?"

1427: Eng 234-5:
Prior bottom-hands a leggish one from Zaheer through midwicket for three, and that's the 100 partnership, off a mere 128 balls. Super work from this pair, and England are now very much in charge again. Prior gets a tiddly snicker on an angled one, but it drops short of the tumbling Dhoni.

1423: Eng 227-5:
Fireworks doused as Kumble finds his line, and it's singles and a scampered two to Prior as England stretch their legs.

1419: Eng 223-5:
Zaheer brought back by Dravid to stem the flow, and with Prior finally getting a pop it all calms down a fraction.

From Sarah, formerly of Canterbury but now in the departure lounge at Gatwick: "Dear Paddy in Portugal, whilst my heart is filled with joy on reading your message, mindful of the deceits and malicious attempts throught this clockwatch to thwart our love, I feel before I board the plane to Switzerland that some proof of your true identity is required. I hope you understand."

1415: Eng 221-5:
After all that drama, a touch of streak from KP as a thick edge flies through fourth slip for another four. To give you an idea of who's decided to take charge here, Prior hasn't been on strike for four whole overs. England's lead now 318.

1408: Eng 213-5:
Is he ever - sensational over from KP, crunching a back-foot drive through cover for four, coming down the pitch to casually hoist Kumble's next one over long-on for six, and then going to his ninth Test ton with a clip to midwicket for another boundary. Off comes the lid, up go the arms, and the roaring throng rise to him. He milks the moment for all it's worth, almost saluting every single person in the ground with his pointing willow before hugging Prior like a long-lost brother.

1403: Eng 198-5:
Sree's removed the heavy gold chains he had round his neck earlier on - they weren't anything too Isaac Hayes, but they clearly wore him down. KP flips a two to deep square leg and then flamingo-drives with fabulous relish through midwicket for four. 89 now for the high-voiced aggressor, and he's aiming a blow of lustiness at virtually every ball.

From Clarkey in London: "Yes, but the one thing Shere Khan fears is fire. As soon as you take the old Bryant & Mays to the bails to create some more ashes, he'll be back off into the jungle."

1358: Eng 189-5:
Further edgy singles off Kumble, and it looks like Sree's warming up for a pop.

From Paddy in Portugal formerly known as Bill in Switzerland: "Sarah from Canterbury - on a plane to Switzerland? Oh Sarah, what joy! I thought you had deserted me after all the defamatory, libellous and downright calumnious statements made towards my person as disseminated on Friday's TMS. I had even been forced to change my name and to enter into hiding whilst awaiting plastic surgery in order to embark on a new and hopefully less traumatic life. I hereby wish to make it known that I am still an avid follower of cricket and you, and will henceforth be digitally communicating under the name of Paddy in Portugal. Ps is the wedding still on?"

1353: Eng 186-5:
Singh strays, pushing the ball too full and being driven straight by Pietersen for a crunchy three and through cover by Prior with a high-elbow flourish. That's the 50 partnership. I shouldn't leave Bill Frindall out of this, either - whilst the drag from his beard slowed him up badly in the water and on his bike, his performance on the run was nothing short of phenomenal. You should have seen him, inking his lap-times into a giant hard-cover scorebook as he accelerated through the field.

1350: Eng 175-5:
Two singles apiece for the England pair as Kumble strains for the breakthough. Re Blowers on his tri-bars - to give CMJ his due, he looked magnificent in his figure-hugging wetsuit, slipping through the water like a spectacles-wearing dolphin.

From Michael in Lancs: "In reference to the team of Khans, what about Shere Kaan from Jungle Book? His predatory skills would make him an excellent fielder to have patrolling the boundary."

1345: Eng 171-5:
KP's had a slice of aggression pie for luncheon - he thwacks a wide-ish arm-loosener from Singh through cover for a a fence-bumper of a four, and then flicks an overdone in-swinger to the fine-leg fence with extravagant wristiness. I tell you what - you haven't lived until you've seen Henry Blofeld in a skin-tight tri-suit, tucked into a tight aero crouch on his gleaming time-trial bike.

1342: Eng 161-5:
Afternoon my friends - sunny mit clouds at Lord's, and a ripper of a first over from Kumble - he fizzes one past Prior's groping blade first up, and then almost has him lbw with his trademark top-spinner. Quick salute to my colleague The Mitch for keeping things shipshape while I slogged it round the triathlon early doors. The whole TMS cru got involved - I'll fill you in in a mo.

LUNCH INTERVAL

Normal service will be resumed when they return...

By Mark Mitchener

That's it from me on the clockwatch - Mr Fordyce will be taking guard after lunch. But not before Blair in Bangkok (in the TMS inbox) regales us with an entire Khan XI:

Amir Khan (team muscle)
Chaka Khan (changing room song leader)
Majid Khan (pure elegance)
Nawab Iftekhar Ali Khan (Pataudi Sr) (scored century on debut for England and then captained India - divided loyalties perhaps?)
Younis Khan (stylish batsman and backup for Amir)
Imran Khan (world's greatest all-rounder and eye candy for the female fans)
Jahangir Khan (squash fitness would make a great sub fielder/runner)
Ghengis Khan (captain, enough said)
Aga Khan (manager and bankroller)
Kublai Khan (chief strategist and link to team doctor/physio S T Coleridge)
Zaheer Khan (balances opening attack)

(Jason adds: How about Hugh Grant's [and Imran's] ex, Jemima Khan? Probably no use whatsoever as a cricketer, but stick her in as a close fielder and then let's see the batsmen concentrate!)

1300: LUNCH - Eng 161-5
Tendulkar comes on for the last over before lunch with some leg-spinners. Strolling in slower than Chris Gayle off a couple of paces, I suppose it will help India's over-rate. A slow "bouncer" is pulled to deep square leg by KP, and they take two as Prior is almost caught on the hop when KP calls for the second. Just that two taken from the over, and England now have an overall lead of 258.

1256 - Eng 159-5
Kumble still has three close fielders for Prior, and racks up his 36,000th delivery in Test cricket, from 116 games - he's only behind Murali (37382) and Warne (40705). A second consecutive maiden.

"I grew up on the Isle of Wight and my father used to work on the Red Funnel ferries in the 1960s. He tells me he got much pleasure from the panic in people's faces as they approached the pontoon at Cowes and started calling 'Passports please!'"
Ross MacDonald in the TMS inbox

1254 - Eng 159-5
Pietersen drives Zaheer to cover where Kartik makes a smart stop on both occasions. That's 50 overs bowled in this innings, and a rare maiden at this stage as lunch approaches. With Kumble on, two more overs are expected.

"Re: 1133 entry - I do believe my exact bowling stats for that day were: 16-1-65-5, bowling up the hill!"
Ben "Iron Man" Pearce in the TMS inbox

"Mark, shame you're going - would be nice to have you in the chair for a bit more. As for Mark in Sussex, haha! Do you think my response to your response was not also humour? Perhaps we could discuss the relative merits of humour in Kent and Sussex on a plane to Switzerland?"
Sarah, Canterbury, in the TMS inbox

1250 - Eng 159-5
KP takes two runs to Kumble's first ball, and then a single. Prior then elicits an appeal for a catch behind from wicket-keeper Dhoni, but Kumble isn't interested, and neither is the umpire. Remember - add 97 for the overall lead (256).

"The only fourth-innings score over 300 to win a Test match at Lord's was 344-1 by West Indies in 1984. Gordon Greenidge hit a double-hundred after David Gower had declared"
Bill Frindall, "The Bearded Wonder", on TMS

1246 - Eng 156-5
RP takes a breather after a glorious morning spell of 7-2-30-3, and his replacement Zaheer overpitches one from which Prior hits his first boundary. He then tucks KP up and hits him in the ribs as he tries to pull Zaheer to leg. Tom Fordyce walks through the door.

"India are still in it, but they need to keep taking wickets"
BBC cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew on TMS

"I once went on a school cricket tour from London to Durham. I was down at 7 in the order but was pleased to face a leg spin bowler, as he was only 13. The first ball was outside off, so I shouldered arms, expecting it to spin away. Instead the cheeky tyke had bowled me a googly, which hit me on the pad, looped up in the air, flicked my glove - even though it was held way above my head - and then carried nicely to the keeper. I trudged off for a golden duck, and the scorer had to run on to the pitch to ask the umpire how I was out as no-one could work out what happened. The 13-year old castled my replacement next ball to complete a hat-trick, and I didn't bat in our second game and so had to travel all the way back to London having only faced one delivery on the whole tour"
Ian in Dubai in the TMS inbox

1240 - Eng 150-5
Tendulkar waves to his numerous fans in the crowd as Kumble again tries to tempt Pietersen. He tosses a few up, but only two singles come from the over, a better one for India. The lead is now 247.

"I wonder whether [Germany goalkeeper] Oliver Kahn would warrant a place in the Khan XI - probably not much of a bowler but could be pretty useful as a wicket-keeper! I'm sure he'd also hold his own in sledging"
Arif, West Yorkshire, in the TMS inbox

1237 - Eng 148-5
KP flays Singh to the cover boundary but Ganguly shakes off rumours of a bad back with a superb athletic stop in front of the Grandstand. Blue skies around Lord's, no sign of any weather problems just yet.

"Pietersen's running between the wickets is good, although he may suffer because of his partner, who's not as fast. But as Geoff Boycott might say, that's not Pietersen's problem!"
Angus Fraser on TMS

"A team-mate was out last week in unusual circumstances. We were using the artificial strip due to the dodgy weather, when the bowler sent a ball down so wide that it hit the outside edge of the wicket, bounced off the strip of grass that butted up against the artificial strip, skewed back about three feet, hit his back leg and then trickled apologetically onto the stumps. It was his first ball as well"
Richard in the TMS inbox

1232 - Eng 145-5
Veteran leg-spinner Anil Kumble is introduced into the attack, to the delight of the Indian fans at Lord's. He seems to have been playing Test cricket for ever, but has lost none of his guile, and restricts England to just three singles.

"All this talk of declaring with a lead of 350 is nonsense. I suspect we'll have no choice other than defending a lead of 275. At least knowing that Liberty X are unlikely to release another record will sweeten the blow"
Mike in Mold in the TMS inbox

"A Kiwi girl at work in London going to Isle of Wight (on a Lord's yacht no less) asked me if she needed her passport - I said no but make sure you get some euros in"
Geoff in the TMS inbox

1228 - Eng 142-5
Pietersen scampers through for a quick single, and gets a second run on an overthrow to take him to 49. A delicate leg-side nudge takes him to his 11th Test half-century off 88 balls. The lead is now 239.

"Pietersen is a big man, but he's one of the quickest between the wickets. As a fielder, unless you hit the stumps, you're not going to have a chance with him"
Angus Fraser on TMS

"I had a suspicion that Ian Bell had dyed his hair the other day whilst watching England in the field. It seems that the 'rock star' influence of KP is rubbing off on fellow team members"
Neil in Bristol in the TMS inbox

1223 - Eng 139-5
Much is resting on KP now. England just take two from the over as Prior hits Santh through the covers.

"India's highest winning fourth-innings score since 1990 was 264 against Sri Lanka in Kandy in 2001"
Arlo White on TMS

1218 - Eng 137-5
New batsman Matt Prior is off the mark with a single, and then Pietersen thumps a four through mid-off as Singh completes his over. His figures are 3-30, and Tom Fordyce has reached the North Circular, so my clockwatching time is running out...

"If England can bowl as well as they did in the first innings, I think they can still win it"
Former England seamer Angus Fraser on TMS

1214: WICKET - Bell b Singh 9 - Eng 132-5
Bell pulls Singh for four to midwicket - but then attempts the same stroke and is cleaned up. Three wickets for RP this morning.

"As for Amir Khan in the Khan XI, I think it'd be a good idea so long as he's not taking bowling coaching from his cousin Sajid Mahmood. You wouldn't want another bowler who sprays it all over the place"
Jon Doyle in the TMS inbox

1212 - Eng 128-4
KP drives SS handsomely to the cover boundary, to warm applause from the crowd. He's clearly keen to accelerate the tempo. Remember, add 97 to the score to get England's lead (or add 100 and subtract 3 if your maths isn't too hot). Blowers has noticed a sub fielder on for Zaheer.

"Those consecutive boundaries by Pietersen off Zaheer have sparked everyone's interest... Not many signs of anyone cracking open the Chablis just yet - they want to watch the cricket"
BBC Sport's Oliver Brett at Lord's

"I was out hit wicket a couple of years ago as whilst going for a pull shot (the only type my portly frame allows), my pads became unstrapped and a whirling two-foot length of Velcro whipped my bails off"
Fletch in the TMS inbox

1207 - Eng 120-4
After the liquid refreshments are dispensed, Singh continues from the Pavilion End and Blowers enters the TMS fray, spotting a "medium-fast aeroplane" almost immediately. RP has an lbw shout against Bell, but it hit him outside the line of off-stump.

"During an optimistic run chase, and running out of partners, I launched a sweep at a podgy left-armer's lollipop, missed the ball completely, and in some horror, watched the bat career straight out of my gloves and into the poor keeper's chest. He looked like an accountant, or bank clerk, certainly not someone used to dealing with large lumps of wood smashing into his ribcage. Regardless, I was so shocked and in such a hurry to check on the poor man's condition (he was foetal and perfectly still at this point) that I crashed straight through my own stumps. Turns out he was perfectly all right, the swine, and sadly, 'dramatic humanity' is not an accepted defence in the eyes of the umpire. On a side note, we lost miserably"
James in the TMS inbox

"Thanks to Sarah for the fish update. By way of response: Montina - glad the fish is thriving without the need for gender-reassignment counselling. Visa - er, yes I did twig it was humour. So was my response. Is everyone this quick on the uptake in Canterbury?"
Mark in Sussex in the TMS inbox

"Following Santh's lead, how long before Sir Geoff elects to be called the Boy Cott, with Mar Tinjenkins and the Flin Toff. And what's poor old Ryan going to elect for? Bottom?"
Mi Ke in Vil Nius in the TMS inbox

"Some years ago, I was playing in our annual match against the local ladies team. I pulled a ball, from the middle of the bat for a change. It was certainly going for four but the square leg umpire caught it. To rub salt in the wound, he gave me out! PS There is a swift in a case in the Long Room which was killed when it was hit by a ball off the bat of, I think, Wally Hammond"
Mick Ames, Malvern, Worcs (under water) in the TMS inbox

1200 - Eng 119-4
Santh, with a light smearing of sun cream over his face, changes end and replaces Zaheer at the Nursery End, and Bell nudges one off his legs to fine leg for four. Drinks break.

"Surely Amir Khan would be worth a shot in the Khan XI? His defensive work might not be up to much, but he'd have a heck of a good arm in the outfield, and it'd be a brave umpire that gave him out lbw..."
Jason in the TMS inbox

"I thought as I read Sarah's post yesterday that there would be some pedant out there who would feel the need to tell her she didn't need a visa for Switzerland. Glad to see there are still some certainties in this life"
Beth, The Netherlands, in the TMS inbox

1152: WICKET - Collingwood c Laxman b Singh 4 - Eng 114-4
Good Golly, Colly's on a pair, and he's facing RP. But RP overpitches and Colly slashes a four to third man. However, Singh then strikes again when Colly takes evasive action to a bouncer, and gloves it into the air to second slip. Ian Bell is the new batsman, and he's off the mark with a hesitant single as they reach 115-4 by the end of the over - a lead of 212.

"Many years ago I was playing in the Lancs League U18 against Nelson, who had the nephew of Sarfraz Nawaz amongst their number. He was pretty rapid and bowled a lot of short stuff which I couldn't lay a bat on, but eventually he pitched one up and I jabbed at it and got a thick bottom edge. It flew straight to gully, where it hit a podgy fellow in his belly and knocked him over. Sadly the ball lodged in his belly and I was out caught"
Colin from Bexley in the TMS inbox

1148 - Eng 110-3
KP square-cuts Zaheer for four to third man, despite CMJ losing the flight of the ball. The future Mr Jessica Taylor then finds the gap between mid-off and point with another boundary.

"I was out in an equally gutting way [see Jason's 1114 entry] yesterday. I opened the batting at number 2. The first two balls passed without alarm, then on the 3rd ball my colleague drove a ball towards cover and called for a quick single. Trusting his judgement I went for the run only to see the fielder picking the ball up and hurling to the keeper. Even my desparing dive could not save me, and thus I was run out 3rd ball of the match, not having faced a ball"
Mark, Somerset in the TMS inbox

"I've been out for a duck before but never a seagull!"
Danny in the TMS inbox
[And you thought my puns were bad - MM]

1143: WICKET - Vaughan b Singh 30 - Eng 102-3
It's becoming a day where initials rule - KP off-drives RP, and it's another long chase for SS as they run three. RP responds by going round the wicket, and Vaughan gets another thick edge past third slip to bring the hundred up. Looking to accelerate, he tries another drive and is clean bowled by the last ball of the over.

"How embarrassing is that! Just sent a ranting email, only to turn the TV on and to find that overnight, the hotel has subscribed to Star Cricket, who have the exclusive TV contract here. So internet on for TMS, and TV on for visuals. And in the way of the local Raj, Mark, you are redundant and therefore fired!" [There's gratitude for you - MM]
Graham in Bangalore in the TMS inbox

1138 - Eng 95-2
Vaughan still looking a little uncomfortable against Zaheer, and plays and misses with an ugly cross-batted swipe. A much better shot is an on-drive, which is stopped just in front of the long-on boundary for an all-run four.

"I'm listening to TMS and following the text commentary in Osaka, can you advise Ant that it's past 7pm here, and drinking is perfectly acceptable. He just needs to think internationally"
Gary in the TMS inbox

1133 - Eng 89-2
A change of bowling at the Pavilion End sees RP Singh enter the attack, and his first ball beats KP between bat and pad. He then takes an easy two to Ganguly, who has been despatched to field on the boundary.

"Has Tim from Dubai managed to leave the comfort of his a/c recently and check the weather in the city? True, it never usually rains in July or August but bear in mind that today is fairly mild - only 38 degrees and 53% humidity. There'd probably be more drinks breaks than actual play but could make for a few more missed catches due to sweaty palms"
John in Dubai in the TMS inbox

Never mind Dubai, John, I played in a match in Dorset a couple of years ago where it was so hot, we were given ice lollies rather than drinks at the numerous drinks breaks. Despite the blazing heat, my pal Ben Pearce (who we call "The Iron Man" as he's a triathlete like Fordyce) took a five-for, charging in to bowl a long spell while wearing a headband.

1128 - Eng 87-2
Vaughan slices Zaheer just wide of Karthik, one of two gullies deployed by Dravid, and Zaheer does a little jump in frustration. Another good over by ZK, who would certainly get in the all-time "Zaheer XI" alongside ex-Pakistan and Gloucestershire batsman Zaheer Abbas, though there would be more competition for places in the all-time "Khan XI", which would undoubtedly be captained by Imran.

"So here I am on business in India, thinking that I may catch the full impact of an England match in the greatest cricket supporting nation in the world. But no! I may be in a five-star hotel but of the 60-odd channels, including BBC World and CNN, there are four sports channels, none of which are showing the cricket. Anyway - between you and TMS online, I get all I need!"
Graham in Bangalore in the TMS inbox

1123 - Eng 84-2
SS keeps KP tied down, testing his defensive repertoire, while Arlo White and Geoff Boycott applaud KP's fiancee Jessica Taylor for her regular attendance at England games - and discuss her prospects as a solo singer following her band Liberty X's recent split (which had passed me by). KP then clips SS off his legs for the first boundary of the day - the lead is now 182.

"In another 55 overs, if England can score @ 3 per over, their total lead will be around 350 with 150 overs left (and if 30 overs are lost to rain tomorrow, still 105-115 remaining), in which there is a fair possibility of a result"
Mahavirhindustan in the TMS inbox

"I worry for Michael Vaughan that it won't be form that will curtail his career - it'll be fitness"
BBC Sport's Arlo White on TMS

1119 - Eng 81-2
Pietersen's first run of the morning as he clips Zaheer for a single to square leg. The wily left-armer adjusts his field and is keeping it tight.

"Morning Mark, lovely to see you back! I wonder if you would be so kind as to tell Mark in Sussex that Montina is thriving and the Swiss visa was something called humour. Thank you!"
Sarah, Canterbury in the TMS inbox

"The best bowler of a slower ball in my era was the West Indian, Franklyn Stephenson"
Former England batsman Geoff Boycott on TMS

1114 - Eng 80-2
Cap'n Dravid returns to the fray, having left the nets early according to Bill Frindall. Santh, a large collection of 'bling' rattling around his neck, charges in and Vaughan gains two runs from a scoop to deep midwicket. On the England balcony, bowling coach Allan Donald is having a rest, giving that all his bowlers are waiting to bat - and he's reading the Sunday Times.

"I have a mini-challenge for the readers today. Yesterday, batting for my local team, I launched a juicy half-volley straight back over the bowler's head and away for what was a certain six. Imagine my surprise when the ball seemingly exploded into a cloud of feathers about halfway, and dropped like a stone, along with the passing seagull it had just sent to meet its maker. What was even more galling was the fact that the ball fell straight into the disbelieving hands of the fielder at mid-on. Has anyone been out in a stranger way? I'm sure it's possible, but I'd love to hear it"
Jason, Norfolk, in the TMS inbox

1109: Eng 78-2
Cap'n Vaughan gets the first run of the day off Zaheer Khan, who then strikes KP right in the joy division - and Zaheer is unable to stop himself breaking out into a huge grin as he walks back to his mark. The left-armer then beats KP's outside edge twice. My eagle-eyed gaffer Paul Grunill has noticed Tendulkar directing the Indian fielders, and it turns out Dravid has not taken the field this morning. "Surely it can't be a loo break this early?" says PG.

1103: Eng 77-2
Sree Santh (that's not a misprint - that's what the man himself told us he wants to be known as now) opens up at around 87mph, and KP leaves the first couple, before the bat is beaten in Geoff Boycott's legendary "corridor of uncertainty". SS then raps KP on the pad but ump Simon Taufel is unmoved. A maiden.

"Our Sunday League game has just been called off, so I'm settling in for a day in front of the box. (with sound off and TMS on). What time is acceptable for my first beer?"
Ant, Mansfield, in the TMS inbox

1058: Here we go. The players are out there, and KP is already brushing the pitch in front of him before a ball is bowled.

"Poor Sunil Gavaskar. The man could barely get into the lifts to take him up to the media centre as he was mobbed by autograph hunters this morning. The scoreboard informs us that the five-minute bell is being rung by Sir Ian Botham. And?"
BBC Sport's Oliver Brett at Lord's

"The 19-year waiting list is a long time, but we have 18,000 members and we can only accommodate a certain number because of the facilities we have"
MCC chief executive Keith Bradshaw on BBC Radio Five Live

"If England can get up to 350-400, you might see them declaring this evening"
Former England skipper Mike Gatting on BBC Radio Five Live

"I'm sorry to be pedantic at this time of day, but I was just wondering who else other than web users would be reading the line that says 'Web users can view the full forecast below'. Is there a Vulcan mind-melders page that I don't know about or something?"
Mick in the TMS inbox

How to get BBC Sport on your mobile

No mind-melding here - but it is now possible to view this page (and indeed, most of the BBC website) on mobile phones and other platforms, and we are continually reminded not to disenfranchise such high-tech people by continually saying "click here" or whatever. Live long and prosper, Mick!

"Just a thought, but following the footsteps of the ICC, has the MCC considered moving Lord's to Dubai? It never usually rains in Dubai in July, and, looking out of the office window I'd say that there would be a fair chance of a full day's cricket without rain or bad light!"
Tim from Dubai in the TMS inbox

Not sure, Tim, but I don't think the MCC members would stand for it - it would be a very long journey for all those retired colonels from Somerset to make. As for the MCC staff and executives, who knows? They may be jealous at their ICC counterparts', ahem, favourable tax status since the Dubai move...

1045: In case you're just joining us, welcome - we're all set to start on time at 1100, and the match situation is this. England are 77-2 - and are effectively 174-2 in a one-innings match with two days remaining. Weather forecast looks pretty good today, but is a little dodgier for tomorrow.

"Before somebody writes in complaining about the stupid comments in the commentary, I am saying that it is raining at home so I am stuck on the computer and they are one of the few things that keep me amused"
Charles, Scunthorpe, in the TMS inbox

"When will summer appear? I'm surprised any cricket has been possible this year! Although I went to watch my local side play yesterday and they were playing in heavy rain! Was rather funny to watch"
Steve, Grasmere, in the TMS inbox

"Hope you are not suffering from 'new kid' syndrome Mark. [You obviously weren't around for any of the World Cup matches I did, including four Bangladesh games - MM] Don't worry, the Fordster will be back soon and then the fur will fly. Popular rumour has it that he was at a rave in Sussex last night with Bill Frindall, hence his late showing"
Nick Halsall in the TMS inbox

1030: The latest BBC weather forecast for London NW8 says "sunny intervals". The graphic shows a little cloud, with a single raindrop but with a bit of sunshine on the side. But it looks pretty sunny at Lord's - conditions certainly better than the last day of The Open at Carnoustie - although rain is forecast for tomorrow. Web users can view the full forecast below.

"When I was a boy, I used to nick Wisdens from second-hand bookshops"
BBC Sport's Pat Murphy confesses to criminal tendencies in his youth on BBC Radio Five Live

1025: If you're feeling let down as you were expecting Tom Fordyce, or if you were left in suspense after his final clockwatch entry yesterday about getting up at 0400, all can now be revealed.

The newly-bearded Mr Fordyce is competing in a triathlon this morning, so I'm doubling up from my lunch/tea/end-of-innings match report duties to stand in until he arrives. Meanwhile, indefatigable cricket editor Paul Grunill is doing absolutely everything else, including keeping me in line.

1020: A very good morning. Since last night, there's been some intriguing discussions on TMS and elsewhere about what might be England's best hope of winning this match - such as if they're bowled out by tea.