Close India 17 for 0 and 291 need another 357 runs to beat England (407 and 257, Butcher 92, Hussain 50, Harbhajan 5-71)
scorecard

England were in with a chance of squaring the series with a day to go after setting India 374 to win - 98 more than any side has ever successfully chased to a win a Test in this country before. They could have declared earlier, but Nasser Hussain, perhaps determined not to give this talented Indian batting line-up even a sniff of victory, sent his tail out in a do-or-die search for quick runs. The delay could cost England dear.

England's second-innings total of 257 revolved around an innings of supreme skill and thought from a queasy Mark Butcher, whose 92 glittered with wristy late-cuts and meaty sweeps. It was the sort of innings that a year ago he would have been incapable of playing. But a winter honing his technique against spin in the nets finally paid dividends as he played Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh with soft hands and quick feet. Thanks to him, and a second-wicket stand of 112 with Hussain, England should not now go to Bangalore 2-0 down.

The day began with England 131 ahead, but they quickly lost Marcus Trescothick, who pulled Javagal Srinath to square leg where SS Das for once avoided serious injury and clung on superbly as he dived to his left. Trescothick was out for 12, his first score of less than 49 in the series, and England were 21 for 1.

Hussain was all outside edge at first, but Butcher eased the tension by easing Kumble through the covers, and lashing his next ball, a high full-toss, for four more through point. Hussain finally located the middle of the bat when he danced down the wicket to lift Kumble for six, and the fifty partnership was up when Butcher drove Tinu Yohannan through the covers for three.

Lunch was taken at 97 for 1, but Butcher emerged hungry for more. He swept Kumble safe and square, then cut him with a resounding crack of the blade to move to 50. For the first time in his 34 Tests, Butcher had made two half-centuries. But he and Hussain had some luck too. In three balls from Harbhajan, both were granted lives by an Indian fielding side that has made the Keystone Cops look organised. On 47, Hussain skied a slog-sweep to midwicket, where Sourav Ganguly made a mess of things. And two balls later Butcher's attempted cut cannoned off the gloves of Deep Dasgupta and away to safety. Harbhajan's shriek of anguish echoed around the quarter-full stadium.

Hussain finally reached a single-laden half-century, but got no further when he deflected one from Harbhajan that bounced into Virender Sehwag's taunting hands at short leg (133 for 2). Butcher's answer was to dab Kumble to third man like some modern-day Ranjitsinhji. Mark Ramprakash opted for the less subtle approach, and decided that if Kumble wasn't going to turn it, he would simply mow him for two leg-side sixes.

England were cruising, but now threatened to run aground as three wickets fell for five runs on the stroke of tea. Ramprakash top-edged a sweep off Harbhajan to short fine leg for 19 (178 for 3); Andy Flintoff extended his miserable sequence with the bat to 26 runs in four innings when he chopped on to Kumble for 4 (182 for 4); and Butcher, with a fourth Test century there for the taking, failed to get over a cut off Harbhajan and was caught in the gully for 92 (183 for 5).

The lead at tea was 299, and England needed quick runs. But a groggy Michael Vaughan wasn't at his most fluent and India reeled off three maidens from Kumble and Harbhajan, who were to bowl all but two of the 52.2 overs after lunch. Vaughan, though, began to settle down, and the sixth-wicket stand with Craig White had reached 42 when White hesitated over a second and was beaten to the non-striker's end by Yohannan's powerful through from square leg. White was out for 18 and England were 225 for 6.

England were now 341 ahead, but any thoughts of a declaration were put on hold as Hussain insisted on going for as many quick runs as possible. James Foster skied Anil Kumble to mid-off for 3 (231 for 7); Ashley Giles swept Harbhajan to deep square leg for 8 (247 for 8); Richard Dawson gave Kumble his 299th Test wicket when he slogged to long-on for 2 (253 for 9); and Matthew Hoggard gave Harbhajan his second five-for of the series when he picked out deep midwicket for 1. Vaughan was left 31 not out.

It all meant India had just seven overs to face. Giles took the new ball, but there was nothing in the pitch to get him too excited and India survived. Tomorrow they will need to score at four an over to register their second-highest successful runchase. More probably, England need to take ten wickets on a pitch that has so far shown little inclination to break up. Tendulkar and Giles will be the keys, but the odds are on a draw. Since most sages confidently predicted a series whitewash, this would be a minor triumph for Hussain and his motley crew.

Lawrence Booth is assistant editor of Wisden.com.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd