Karthik misses century as India close on a good note ..

Sachin Tendulkar was threatening to make England pay for dropping himon 20 as India finished the first day of the third and final Test on316 for four at The Oval here Thursday.

Tendulkar was 48 not out and VVS Laxman 20 not out following an impressive 91 from opener Dinesh Karthik.India,1-0 up, had merely to avoid defeat in this match to win only their third series in England in 15 campaigns dating back to 1932.England, by contrast, had to win to maintain their six-year unbeaten run in home Test series.It seemed as if India, whose captain Rahul Dravid won the toss on a belting batting pitch, were threatening to put the game beyond England’s reach before the first day ended when they were 189 for one.But England, with James Anderson taking two wickets, fought back to haveIndia 211 for three at tea. Tendulkar was two not out and SouravGanguly eight not out in what could be both players last Test inEngland.

India resumed after lunch on 117 for one with opener Karthik 50 not out and Rahul Dravid, who'd won the toss and chosen to bat on a good pitch, unbeaten on 25.In the second over after the break Karthik, on 58, gave a sharp chance when he was dropped at short extra-cover by Andrew Strauss following a powerfully-struck drive off -arm spinner Monty Panesar.

Dravid then responded to England captain Michael Vaughan's decision to post two fielders close in at short extra-cover by stylishly driving Panesar between the pair of them for four.

Karthik then used his feet well to go down the pitch to drive Panesar for six over extra-cover.Dravid, who in India's last Test at The Oval five years ago scored 217, went on to complete an 82-ball fifty with eight fours. But a stand of 127 was ended when Dravid, on 55, was bowled by Anderson's yorker.