Scorecard

James Anderson led England's [Images] fightback with two early wickets to reduce India to 35 for 3 in their second innings before rain interrupted play on day four of the third and final Test at The Oval in London [Images] on Sunday.

England were bowled out for 345 in their first inning, finishing 319 runs behind India's first innings score, but captain Rahul Dravid [Images] decided against enforcing the follow on.

In reply, England pacers used the new ball well in heavy overcast conditions to strike a few early blows.

Wasim Jaffer was dismissed leg before wicket, once again to a dubious decision from umpire Ian Howell.

Dinesh Karthik (8) and Sachin Tendulkar [Images] (1) also fell in quick succession as India's decision to bat again backfired.

India made a mammoth 664 in their first innings, which included a maiden Test century from Anil Kumble (110).

India lead the series 1-0 having won the second Test, while the first Test at Lord's ended in a draw.

Morning session: (54 runs, 20.3 overs, 4 wickets)

England Innings:

Anil Kumble claimed the last English wicket to fall in the first innings when he trapped Monty Panesar [Images] leg before wicket for 9 as England were bowled out for 345 in the eighth over of the day.

Chris Tremlett finished unbeaten on 25, inclusive of two boundaries, as the last pair added 40 runs before falling in the eighth over of the day.

England finished 319 runs behind India's first innings but captain Rahul Dravid decided against imposing the follow-on. With the unpredictable English weather and with a lead of more than 300 runs under their belt, one would have thought India would take a positive approach and try to win the match instead of taking the safer approach first.

Zaheer Khan [Images] was once again the pick of the Indian bowlers as he took 3 for 32 in his 22 overs. Kumble also toiled hard after his century in the first innings to claim 3 for 94 in 29.1 overs.

S Sreesanth [Images] provided good support, taking 2 for 80 in 21 overs.

India innings

India tactics might have been to bat around two sessions till tea and look to get around 200 runs and then put England in again with more than 500 to chase. But it remained to be seen how quickly they could get the runs and how much they would rue their decision if the weather played some part.

Dinesh Karthik seemed clear with his intentions when he hit Chris Tremlett for two consecutive boundaries in the second over of the innings. It was a big blow for England not having Ryan Sidebottom to bowl after he was ruled out with side strain in the first innings.

Wasim Jaffer fell leg before wicket, without scoring, when he left an incoming delivery from James Anderson. Once again umpire Ian Howell made a poor decision as the ball would have clearly gone on to bounce over the stumps. Umpire Howell waited for ages, perhaps thinking how much it would bounce, but still gave one of the worst decisions ever seen.

Karthik then fell in Tremlett's next over caught at second slip off Paul Collingwood [Images] for 8 as India slipped into early trouble at 10 for 2.

Once again Sachin Tendulkar walked to a standing ovation from the packed house at The Oval and it remained to be seen whether he would play a conservative game or look for some quick runs.

He, however, could not last long either as his stumps were sent crashing by Anderson in the seventh over of the innings. Tendulkar went for a expansive drive on the off-side, but the inswinger took an inside edge and uprooted his middle and leg stumps.

Tendulkar was gone for 1 in what could possibly be his last Test appearance on English soil as India slipped to a precarious 11 for 3.

Anderson's first four overs were all maidens as he ended up claiming the wickets of Jaffer and Tendulkar.

At the other end, Dravid would have surely been wondering about his decision not to enforce the follow on. With an overcast sky hovering above, the England pacers were surely making merry while India thinking what if they would have opted to bowl.

Sourav Ganguly [Images] looked keen to score runs as soon as he walked out in the middle. He was also helped by the fact that the pacers had difficult in adjusting their length to the left-hander.

Ganguly raced to 21 off 18 deliveries, hitting four boundaries to ease India's nerves a little bit. At the other end, Dravid was still looking edgy as he played and missed quite a lot, scoring 2 off 32 deliveries.

India reached 35 for 3 in 13.2 overs and suddenly it started raining, much to the delight of the English fans.

The two Indian batsmen rushed back to the pavilion and now surely the Indian dressing room could have been ruing the fact of opting not to follow on.

There are predictions for a few light showers through the day thereby adding to India's woes. One is sure Dravid's decision not to enforce the follow-on will be debated for a long time to come in the Indian maidans and bars if England manage to escape with a draw.