Collingwood hits ton as India toil
England began collecting cricket records as they continued their relentless attempt to claim a match-winning lead in the first Test against India on Sunday.
Resuming the fourth morning already 247 runs ahead on 172 for three, they extended that advantage to a daunting 332 runs before the productive fourth wicket stand between century-makers Andrew Strauss and Paul Collingwood was finally ended with the loss of two wickets in three overs in mid afternoon.
Andrew Strauss became only the 10th England player in history to claim centuries in both innings of a Test and was quickly followed by the loss of Andrew Flintoff as England progressed into a 337-run lead at 262 for five.
The Middlesex left-hander also becomes only the fourth player in history to achieve the feat on Indian soil and the first England player since Marcus Trescothick also hit hundreds in both innings against West Indies at Edgbaston in 2004.
Strauss was followed to the landmark by Durham all-rounder Collingwood, who completed his second century in his last three Tests just one ball before their determined stand was finally broken.
He had brought up his century with a single to the on-side off left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan in the 20th over of the day after England had struggled to score easily during the early stages, particularly during a superb five-over opening spell from seamer Ishant Sharma which conceded just 12 runs.
It took Collingwood six overs before he recorded England's first boundary of the day, a glance to fine leg for four off Sharma, while Strauss hit two boundaries off Harbhajan Singh to get his innings moving again.
Collingwood, who had resumed overnight on 60, reached his century just three overs after lunch when he clipped Harbhajan for a single, but their stand was finally broken off the next delivery with Strauss driving straight to VVS Laxman at extra cover.
All-rounder Flintoff, who England had hoped would accelerate the scoring rate to buy them more time to bowl at India once they declared, lasted only three overs before chasing a delivery from Sharma outside off stump and edging behind.
