PHOTOS: India struggle as Cook serves a ton in Eden

Resuming on 273 for seven, India kept losing wickets at regular intervals in the morning session on Day 2 of the third Test in Kolkata, on Thursday.

Pacer James Anderson, after starting the proceedings, created pressure from one end, while Monty Panesar bowled cleverly using a lot of variations.

- Scorecard

Zaheer Khan, on 2, edged the ball at the second slip in the third over of the day but only to be dropped by Graeme Swann off Anderson. He, however, failed to make the most of the lifeline, as in the very next over he was trapped leg before wicket by Panesar for six.

Panesar then struck in his very next over as he bowled Ishant Sharma (0) for a duck.

In reply to India's first innings score of 316, England cruised to 216 for one at close on the second day to take firm control of the match.

With the hosts reeling at 296 for nine, Mahendra Singh Dhoni went on the attack.

The India captain hit Panesar for two sixes in an over to help his team cross the 300-mark. He brought up his half-century with a boundary over extra cover.

Steven Finn ended the Indian innings when he had Dhoni caught at gully for 52 after trying to fend off a short delivery.

Panesar was once again England's top bowler with magnificent figures of four for 90 in 40 overs, while Anderson took three for 89 in 28 overs.

India once again dissappointed with the bat as they were bowled out for 361 in their first innings on a flat wicket at the Eden Gardens.

England put up a solid batting display and rode on a 165-run opening stand between Cook and Nick Compton (57) as Indian bowlers had a disappointing day.

This is Cook and Compton's second century-plus opening partnership in the series.

The Indian bowlers tried hard to give their team a breakthrough, even as skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni kept on rotating them but the English openers' cautious approach paid rich dividends.

Pragyan Ojha provided India with their only breakthrough of the day, when he had Compton leg before wicket but the decision by New Zealand umpire Rod Tucker looked to be a dubious one.

Skipper Alastair Cook created history by cracking his 23rd Test century, the most by an Englishman, and his third consecutive one in the series as England dominated Day 2.

The left-hander also created a world record of notching five centuries from the five Test matches as captain.

In his sparkling innings, Cook gave a solitary chance while on 17, when he was dropped by Cheteshwar Pujara at first slip off the bowling of Zaheer Khan --- a miss that eventually proved too costly for the Indians and it will be difficult to bounce back in the four-match series which is levelled 1-1.

Cook remained unbeaten on a brilliant 136 to lay the platform for a mammoth first innings total as the visitors cruised to a comfortable 216 for one at close on the second day.

The England captain led from the front as he struck a six and 19 boundaries in his nearly five hour long undefeated stay at the crease and became the youngest batsman to go past 7000 Test runs at the age of 27 years 347 days, eclipsing Sachin Tendulkar's record of 28 years and 193 days.