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Dinesh Karthik's unbeaten half-century kept India in the hunt, as they scored 137 for 3 in their second innings by close on Day 4 of the first Test against England [Images] at Lord's on Sunday.

Karthik was unbeaten on 56 as India lost three quick wickets, chasing a huge target of 380 for victory.

Wasim Jaffer was dismissed for 8 after playing a lazy flick on the leg side, while Rahul Dravid [Images] and Sachin Tendulkar [Images] fell leg before wicket for 9 and 16 respectively.

Earlier, R P Singh bagged five wickets in England's second innings of 282, which saw Kevin Pietersen [Images] score a blazing century.

Singh produced a disciplined spell of seam bowling, claiming five for 59 runs, to register his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

Zaheer Khan [Images] also excelled with the ball, claiming 4 for 79 in 28 overs.

However, it was Pietersen who stole the show in the afternoon session with an attacking century -- 134 off 213 deliveries, inclusive of 14 boundaries and a six. He added 119 runs for the sixth wicket with Matt Prior, who scored 42.

The highest ever run chase at Lord's is 344 [for 1], by the West Indies [Images] against England in 1984.

England were bowled out for 298 in their first innings. They then knocked out India for 201 and took a handy first innings lead of 97 runs.

Morning session: (84 runs, 25 overs, 3 wickets)

Play started on time on Sunday under clear blue skies with no imminent threat of rain. And it could not have been better for England who were looking for a good batting performance on the fourth day after resuming on 77 for 2.

Vaughan and Pietersen tried to take on the seam bowlers, but just when they were starting to take stock of the bowling, Vaughan was bowled by R P Singh courtesy an inside edge for 30.

The wicket seemed to have fired up Singh, who then produced an unplayable delivery to get rid of Paul Collingwood [Images].

The England right-hander made just four, before Singh surprised him with a well-directed bouncer that Collingwood tried to evade, but ended up gloving it to V V S Laxman [Images] at second slip.

For the second time in the match Ian Bell's [Images] stumps were rattled. It was Singh once again, his third wicket of the morning in the space of 15 balls.

Bell had pulled Singh for a boundary through square leg off the previous delivery, but this time the Indian pacer pitched it up a bit further. Bell tried the same shot again, but this time the inside edge crashed onto the stumps.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Pietersen continued batting in his normal attacking fashion. He cruised to his half-century, his 11th in Test cricket off 88 deliveries, hitting seven boundaries as England reached 142 for 5 in the 44th over.

Pietersen and Matt Prior then batted out the few overs before lunch as England reached 161 for 5, for an overall lead of 258 runs.

Pietersen thrilled the huge Sunday gathering with a wide array of shots, as he normally does when he stays at the wicket. He was unbeaten on 62 at the break, hitting eight boundaries in his 118-ball knock.

Though India managed to grab a few wickets in the session, England still has the upper hand with five more wickets to go on a pitch where batting is not that easy.

Indian opener Wasim Jaffer said on Saturday "a score of around 300 is quite chaseable", but it seems unlikely that England will fold up after lunch for 50 runs.

Post-lunch session: (121 runs, 26.3 overs, 5 wickets)

Pietersen started off as expected after the lunch break as he took on R P Singh, India's best bowler in the morning session. He smashed a couple through the off-side in the second over after the break to signal his intentions.

Anil Kumble also did not escape punishment as Pietersen gave the veteran spinner some special treatment in the 59th over of the innings. The first ball was dispatched through the covers for a boundary, followed by a huge straight six past the bowler, which took England's lead past 300.

Two balls later he drove Kumble through the leg side to bring up his ninth Test century, his third at Lord's. It took him 148 deliveries as he struck 12 boundaries and a six to bring up his third century in his fifth Test at Lord's.

The 27-year-old South African-born Pietersen shifted gears quite smoothly and imposed himself against the Indian bowlers. Such was his domination at the crease that 32 runs came between overs 58 to 60 as England reached 221 for 6, and Prior had not faced a single delivery in those three overs.

The two batsmen brought up their 100-run partnership off a mere 128 deliveries, with Pietersen's contribution 71 runs. Not only were the two relying on boundaries, but were also on the look out for sharp singles and twos.

Zaheer broke the partnership when he got Prior caught behind with a wonderful delivery. The ball pitched on and around the middle stump swung away taking the edge and Dhoni [Images] completed a good diving catch to his right in front of the first slip.

Prior scored a quick 42 from 61 deliveries, hitting five boundaries, adding 119 runs for the sixth wicket with Pietersen.

Off the very next ball Zaheer got another wicket, that of Chris Tremlett, bowled first ball. It turned out to be an unfortunate debut for Tremlett as he failed to score in both the innings as England were reduced to 251 for 7.

With a comfortable lead of 348 runs in hand, it was sure that England were not bothered by these quick wickets.

Sidebottom also did not last long, caught at first slip off Kumble for 9.

Pietersen tried to step on the accelerator but India did well to control him by setting their field back in a bid to force the error from him. And it happened when Pietersen was bowled, trying to force R P Singh through the leg side, for a memorable knock of 134.

He hit 14 boundaries and a six in his 213-ball knock to help England take control of the match.

Singh finished off things in style when he got Monty Panesar [Images] leg before wicket for 3 as England were bowled out for 282. Singh took 5 for 59 to register his five-wicket haul in Test cricket.

He got good support from Zaheer, who claimed 4 for 79 in 28 overs.

India's best ever run chase overseas is 406 against the West Indies, at Port of Spain in 1976. Since then they have never chased over 300 runs away from home, their best being 264 for 3 against Sri Lanka [Images] at Kandy in 2001-02.

Considering that the highest total ever chased at Lord's is 344 [for 1] by the West Indies against England in 1984, India have a mountain to climb, though their experienced batting is quite capable of chasing down the target.

Post-tea session: (137 runs, 41 overs, 3 wickets)

India started off positively in their run chase with Karthik leading the charge. His first five scoring shots were all boundaries as he raced to 20 from 22 deliveries.

While Karthik tried to be positive, Wasim Jaffer was content to hold one end up as India reached 37 for no loss after 10 overs.

Just when it looked bright for India, disaster struck when Jaffer flicked the ball straight to Pietersen at square leg off Anderson and was dismissed for 8.

Rahul Dravid walked in and immediately struck a boundary on the off-side. India's chances of winning, or at least saving the match, depend largely on their captain. But it was not to be, as he fell leg before wicket to Tremlett for 9. The dismissal ended an forgettable match for him, having failed in both innings. The ball struck him outside the off-stump; Dravid even indicated the ball had struck his bat, but umpire Simon Taufel was content to rule him out.

India were in a spot of bother at 55 for 2.

Sachin Tendulkar walked out to a standing ovation from the spectators, who knew that this perhaps could possibly be his last Test innings at the historic Lord's cricket ground. He has never scored a hundred on it and it was the perfect opportunity to get that elusive ton and rescue his team.

The master batsman got going with a couple of sweetly-timed boundaries, one through the covers off Panesar and the next flicked through square leg off Tremlett. But once again he flattered to deceive after hitting three crisp boundaries in his brief knock of 16 runs and fell leg before wicket to Panesar.

Tendulkar, with his bat behind his pads, failed to read the arm ball from the left-arm spinner and was struck on the pad right in front of the stumps.

Panesar's celebration that followed was one to cherish. He ran almost till the square boundary on the off-side in his customary fashion as all his teammates rushed to congratulate him.

India's resistance was as good as over with two of their best batsman back in the pavilion and the score reading 84 for 3.

Sourav Ganguly [Images] stepped into the arena where he had scored a century on debut. He also started confidently, stepping down the wicket and lofting Panesar over mid- wicket for his first runs.

At the other end, Karthik looked very composed as he cruised to a half-century off 101 deliveries, including seven boundaries. His joy on reaching a fifty on his first appearance at Lord's was obvious as he removed his helmet and raised his bat to the crowd, who gave him a huge cheer.

Ganguly continued in a positive vein despite the loss of three wickets. India's strategy was clear: go down, but with a fight.

At close on Day 4, India were 137 for 3 in 41 overs, still needing another 243 runs to win the match. Karthik was unbeaten on 56 and Ganguly on 36. The two batsmen added 53 runs in an unfinished fourth wicket stand.

Even though the target of 380 runs looks steep, it is not impossible, considering that India still have V V S Laxman and M S Dhoni to follow. Some rain is forecast for Monday and that should certainly help. But, first and foremost, India must ensure that they avoid losing any early wickets on the morrow.