India remain in the driving seat after day three of the second Test against England at Edgbaston, despite stunning centuries from Harry Brook and Jamie Smith.
Having resumed at 77-3 after India posted an imposing 587, England only navigated eight balls before Mohammed Siraj dealt them a huge double blow.
Joe Root (22) picked a dreadful shot off Siraj's delivery and was caught by Rishabh Pant, then the same duo combined as Ben Stokes went for a golden duck off the very next ball.
Having been dropped to 84-5, England needed a big partnership from Brook (158) and Smith (184 not out), and that is exactly what they got as they put together an imposing 303-run stand.
Smith only needed 80 deliveries to bring up his century in a big-hitting performance, though their partnership slowed in the second session, as they managed 106 between lunch and tea.
Akash Deep eventually sent stumps flying to dismiss Brook with England at 387, and they only managed a further 20 runs, with Siraj taking Brydon Carse, Josh Tongue and Shoaib Bashir for ducks as the hosts were bowled out for 407.
With a first-innings lead of 180, India extended that lead to 244 by the close after reaching 64-1 in 13 overs.
Yashasvi Jaiswal (28) was the only casualty for the tourists as he was trapped lbw by Tongue, but KL Rahul (28 no) and Karun Nair (seven no) will pick up at the crease on day four with the intention of ramping up their advantage.
Data Debrief: Smith performs rescue act
England looked down and out after Stokes was sent packing, but it opened the door for an epic partnership.
Smith's unbeaten 184-run effort is the highest single innings score by any England player batting at seven or below in men's Tests; in fact, this is his second ton and highest individual score in the format.
Book and Smith's 303-run partnership is the second-highest sixth-wicket partnership by any England pair in men's Tests (399 - Jonny Bairstow and Stokes against South Africa in January 2016).
England's total of 407 matched their 407 all out in their first innings against Australia in 2005 on this very ground, prompting an epic finish as the hosts won by two runs, but India will be determined to make sure it is not that close in this Test.
