Final Test, The Oval (stumps, day one of five): England 336-2 v India

Michael Vaughan hit his fourth century of the summer as England dominated the opening day of the fourth and deciding Test against India at The Oval.

The England opener continued in his rich vein of fine form to smash 27 boundaries, finishing the day just 18 runs short of a double ton.

Trescothick returned with style

India, who won the previous Test at Headingley to square the series, could only take two wickets all day and will already have to work hard to stay in the match.

Vaughan shared in a first wicket partnership of 98 with Marcus Trescothick, who returned to the England side after missing the first three Tests with a broken thumb.

Trescothick hit a typically belligerent 57 with nine boundaries after captain England Nasser Hussain won the toss and elected to bat.

The Somerset man hit three fours in one Ajit Agarkar over and it was a surprise when he top-edged a pull off Zaheer Khan to Sanjay Bangar at deep square leg just before lunch.

Mark Butcher looked uncomfortable early in his innings, particularly against the spin of Harbhajan Singh, but settled to make a patient 54 on a benign pitch.

Butcher and Vaughan batted through the afternoon session putting on an 174 runs for England's second wicket before Butcher gloved a sweep off Harbhajan to Rahul Dravid at first slip.

Tendulkar's 100th Test started badly

Vaughan should have been run out on on 59 after being sent back by Butcher going for a risky single, but just made his ground with a desperate dive thanks to a poor throw by Ganguly.

He made the most of his reprieve, notching his fifth Test ton off 197 balls, using his feet well against the spinners to score boundaries almost at will.

In one Anil Kumble over he played a delicate late-cut for four, sandwiched between two viciously swept boundaries.

John Crawley came in ahead of Hussain to put on 64 runs with Vaughan, and ended the day on 16 not out.

England were helped by some shoddy ground fielding and Sachin Tendulkar, playing in his 100th Test for India, had his landmark day spoiled by Vaughan.