England [Images] declared their second innings closed at 311 for nine 15 minutes after tea on the fourth day on Sunday to set India a stiff target of 387 to win the first Test in Chennai.

Andrew Strauss [Images] and Paul Collingwood [Images] recorded centuries to give the visitors the upperhand on day four.

Opener Strauss and Collingwood struck 108 each, putting on 214 runs for the fourth wicket to lift England from 43 for three at one stage.

Left-handed Strauss, who hit 123 in the first innings, became only the second England batsman to score a century in each innings of a Test against India.

The Middlesex batsman reached his 14th Test century with a single to mid-on off medium-pacer Zaheer Khan [Images] to match Graham Gooch's feat against India at Lord's in 1990.

Strauss also became only the 10th England batsman to score a century in each innings of a Test.

The overnight pair dominated the Indian attack after England resumed at 172 for three, raising another 85 runs before Strauss fell in the sixth over after lunch.

The left-hander, 73 overnight, pushed tentatively at off-spinner Harbhajan Singh [Images] to lob a catch to VVS Laxman at short cover, triggering a minor collapse as Zaheer later grabbed three quick wickets.

Gritty Strauss punched off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for four past point to bring up England's 200 and Collingwood, 60 overnight, hit leg-spinner Amit Mishra to the fence with a lofted on-drive.

Strauss hit eight fours in his masterful 244-ball effort spanning over six hours after a poor series against South Africa [Images] in July and August.

Fast bowler Ishant Sharma forced Andrew Flintoff [Images] to edge behind for four and Zaheer then dismissed Collingwood leg before. Collingwood hit nine fours in his 250-ball effort for his seventh Test hundred.

Zaheer sent back Graeme Swann (7) first and Steve Harmison (1) in the last over before tea as the tourists lost five wickets for the addition of 44 runs.

Matt Prior [Images] made 33 before he was caught by Virender Sehwag [Images] off Ishant Sharma for 33 resulting in England declaring their second innings.

England had gained a 75-run first innings lead after bowling out India for 241 in the first over after lunch on Saturday.

They resumed their aborted tour after tight security was promised for the two tests in the wake of last month's attacks in Mumbai that killed 179 people.