Fletcher praises battling England pair

England coach Duncan Fletcher praised skipper Nasser Hussain and veteran Alec Stewart on Sunday but said the home team still had a major battle to salvage the third Test against India on the final day.

Hussain closed on 90 not out after a dogged unbroken 91-run stand with Stewart (40 not out) to keep England clinging on.

"He's a tough individual... Nasser seems to play his best knocks when it gets difficult, while Alec, at 39, plays like a 33-year-old and keeps on working on his game," said Fletcher.

"They showed their experience but we still have a huge battle on our hands. We'll play it session by session."

England, replying to India's 628 for eight declared, were dismissed for 273 in their first innings early on Sunday before ending the day on 239 for four in their second, still needing 116 to avoid an innings defeat. They lead the four-match series 1-0.

India coach John Wright added: "It's still a game to win and that's what we are looking to do on Monday.

"We realised it wasn't going to be easy. We would have liked to claim one or two wickets in the final session, they made it hard for us. The earlier we break this stand the better but even then three will be one established player there.

"We'll make the right decisions tomorrow, I'm sure of it."

Wright defended his players against suggestions of over-appealing during the final session. "From what I saw on the television I didn't think it was excessive."

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