Anil Kumble scored magnificent maiden hundred to put India on the verge of a first Test series triumph in England for 21 years.
The 36-year-old ace leg spinner, playing his 118th Test and last in England, literally had a ball with the bat, scoring an unbeaten 110, as India amassed 664 in their first innings on Day 2 of the third and final Test at The Oval on Friday.
England, forced to face eight overs before stumps were drawn for the day, lost Andrew Strauss and finished the day on 24 for 1.
With India taking an unassailable 1-0 lead after winning the second Test, England, at best, can only hope for a draw in this concluding Test of the series.
Kumble was the unexpected guest to India's run-feast, which saw eight partnerships go past the 50-run mark. His hundred came of 180 deliveries and included 15 fours and a six.
Earlier in the day, Mahendra Singh Dhoni hit a breezy 92 off 81 balls and Sachin Tendulkar a fine 82 as India consolidated on the solid platform laid by Dinesh Karthik (91) and Rahul Dravid (55) on Day 1 after electing to bat.
Morning session: (113 runs, 27 overs, 2 wickets, )
Resuming at the overnight score of 316 for 4, India got off to a quick start, courtesy VVS Laxman, who timed the ball beautifully.
Sachin Tendulkar completed his fifty in the second over of the day with a single off James Anderson through mid wicket. It was not a trademark Tendulkar fifty -- he needed 135 deliveries and included just five boundaries -- as most of the first day he had to fight it out against the short deliveries directed at his body.
At the other end, Laxman was at his fluent best as the ball started hitting the middle of his bat quite regularly.
In the 97th over of the innings, he produced an impeccable drive to the mid-wicket boundary, hardly putting any effort in the shot. The very next ball he edged a wide outgoing delivery from Ryan Sidebottom but wicketkeeper Matt Prior, diving to his right, failed to hang on to the chance. In fact, had he left it alone, it would have gone straight into the waiting hands of Andrew Strauss at first slip.
In the next over, Laxman pulled a short delivery from Chris Tremlett to the square leg fence to bring up his half-century. It was his 29th fifty in Tests and took him just 65 deliveries.
Laxman looked very comfortable, and with Tendulkar as solid at the other end, it was all rosy for India.
However, once again his march towards a big innings was cut short when he was caught behind for 51. He dabbed his bat at a wide delivery outside the off-stump only to nick it to wicketkeeper Prior, who pouched it this time.
Laxman hit eight fours -- including running two -- in his 79-ball knock, adding 78 runs for the fifth wicket with Tendulkar. It was a delightful knock by the stylish Hyderabadi batsman on the second day even though he was guilty of giving away his wicket rather tamely.
With just one regular batsman left in Mahendra Singh Dhoni, India will be hoping that he and Tendulkar can stitch a partnership and take the score past 500.
Dhoni took no time to get going, cutting Tremlett through point for a boundary off the fourth ball that he faced. In the next over, Tendulkar hit a rare hook shot off a short delivery from Sidebottom, and luckily for the batsmen the ball fell wide off the fine leg fielder.
Tremlett came under some fire on the second morning as Dhoni went after him. In the 108th over of the innings, the dashing batsman cracked a thundering boundary through the cover region and two balls later Tendulkar followed with a superbly-timed off-drive for a boundary.
Two consecutive boundaries off Anderson, the first a classical straight drive followed by a backfoot drive through the off-side saw Tendulkar move into the eighties. But he fell to the next delivery when he edged the ball behind to first slip off Anderson and was dismissed for 82.
The veteran batsman had played the anchor role to perfection during his five-hour stay at the wicket, hitting 11 boundaries in 192 deliveries. He added 63 runs for the sixth wicket with Dhoni before being dismissed yet again close to a century.
Dhoni continued looking for runs and finished unbeaten on 33 at the lunch break, having hit five boundaries in 43 deliveries. Anil Kumble was not out on 5 at the other end.
At the lunch break, India were 429 for six in 117 overs, having scored 113 runs in the morning session.
Anderson was England's most successful bowler, claiming 3 for 130 in 30 overs, including the wickets of Tendulkar, Dravid and Jaffer.
Even though India lost two wickets in the session, they made sure they kept their hold on the game by scoring at a good rate. With four wickets in hand and Dhoni at the wicket, they will be hoping to scale the 500-mark and put themselves in a safe position.
Post-lunch session: (130 runs, 31 overs, 1 wicket)
Dhoni and Kumble played according to plan after the break and kept milking the bowling. Kumble, playing his last Test in England, provided Dhoni good support. The Indian wicketkeeper continued scoring at a good rate and the best part of his innings were the quick singles and twos he took as England spread the field when he came on strike. Slowly, but gradually, the duo was looking to bat England out of the match and series by putting up a huge score in the first innings, possibly in the region of 500.
Dhoni easily got to is sixth fifty in the 126th over when he drove straight past Panesar for a boundary.
Panesar was bowling over the wicket on the rough outside Dhoni's pads and the batsman responded in style, hitting it straight down the ground.
If England thought they would run through the Indian tail-enders they were mistaken as even Kumble proved a hard nut to crack.
In the next over by Panesar, Dhoni stepped down the wicket and launched him high over long on for a big six in what seemed to be an effortless shot. Panesar shifted to round the wicket, but Dhoni gave him the same treatment as he danced down the wicket for yet another huge six which took him to 68.
Certainly the man was on fire and changed gears rapidly after getting to his half-century. He pounded another couple of cracking boundaries off Tremlett to quickly move on to 80.
India reached 496 for 6 in 130 overs and it seemed England had given up hopes as part-timers operated from both ends.
Dhoni did not need a second invitation when Pietersen was introduced into the attack. He launched into a huge six over the midwicket fence and followed it up with another big one to move on to 92. It also brought up India's 500 in the 131st over.
But there seems to some kind of a jinx in the series as far as India's batting are concerned, as yet again one more failed to get a hundred.
Dhoni tried for a third six in a row but ended up holing straight to Alastair Cook at the mid-wicket fence. He was dismissed for 92.
Dhoni hit nine boundaries and four huge sixes and dominated a 91-run partnership with Kumble, scoring 66 of them in just 44 deliveries. Even though India were reduced to 508 for 7, it was clear that they were firmly in the driver's seat and highly unlikely to stumble from this position.
Kumble continued to make England toil with some resolute defending but he also kept the scoreboard ticking. He edged Anderson to the third man boundary in the 145th boundary to bring up a well deserved half-century. The veteran's delight was clear as he pumped his fists in the direction of the Indian dressing room, letting them know that he was not going to give it away.
His fifth half-century in Tests took 109 deliveries and included nine boundaries, as India went past the 550-run mark.
He was involved in an unfinished 51-run stand for the seventh with Zaheer Khan as India went to the tea break on 559 for 7 in 148 overs. Kumble was looking good on 60 not out from 120 deliveries, inclusive of 10 boundaries, while Zaheer was not out on 7.
India may have well secured the match within their grasp after posting this huge score. They may decide to bat out an extra hour and cross 600 and, yes, there is also the possibility of Kumble getting to a hundred. That could be fun it he does get it.
The pitch has become quite dry and dusty, so Kumble will no doubt be waiting for his turn with the ball, though before that he will be keen to add some more runs to the total.
It was the fifth consecutive session that India had dominated and it is no surprise they are in such a dominant position.
Post-tea session: (129 runs, 4 wickets, 30 overs)
India started off in great fashion after the tea break as Zaheer hit a boundary off the very first delivery from Panesar. A little bit of wide from the left-spinner and Zaheer dispatched it to the third man boundary.
Kumble followed it up with an even better shot as he smashed Tremlett through the covers for a boundary to move to 65.
For England, there was further bad news as Sidebottom had to rush to hospital for scans following a side strain. With just three regular bowlers, England were feeling the pinch that more as the Indian tail-enders made merry.
However, Panesar struck in his next over when Zaheer got a top edge and holed out to Anderson in attempt to hit it straight down the ground.
Zaheer scored 11, but added 68 runs for the eighth wicket with Kumble as India inched towards the 600-run mark.
R P Singh also joined in the fun as he hit Anderson for a couple of boundaries in the 157th over before falling next ball. He tried to hit it straight but Anderson on his follow through produced a brilliant catch to send back Singh for 11.
Last man S Sreesanth walked in and got a mixed reception from the crowd after his antics in the Trent Bridge Test match. He also got off the mark in fine style, hitting a boundary off the first ball he faced, a smashing cut shot to the third man fence off Anderson.
Kumble, meanwhile, realized that this was his best chance of getting a hundred and with the last man at the other end he had to make a move on. He charged Panesar down the wicket and hit him straight back over his head as India crossed the 600-run mark.
Sreesanth also did not hold back and in the 161st over gave Anderson the full treatment. He hit three consecutive boundaries off the right-arm pacer to move to 16 and register only the 12th instance in Test cricket when all the eleven batsmen crossed double figures.
Kumble lofted Panesar over the cover boundary to move into the 90s and also register his highest score in Test cricket. A century seemed a real possibility now but could Sreesanth hold on from the other end?
Kumble did not waste much time in the 90s, hitting two boundaries off Pietersen to get the coveted the three-figure mark. In fact, the four that brought him his century was quite bizarre. He charged down the wicket to Pietersen, failed to reach the pitch, but a bottom edge beat wicketkeeper Prior and he danced down the wicket waving his bat.
It was his first century in Test cricket and, quite deservedly, he got a standing ovation from the sporting Oval crowd. Who would have imagined at the start of the series that Kumble would be the first Indian batsmen to post a century in the series?
Sreesanth hit a few lusty blows before he holed out to Vaughan off Panesar for 35 after hitting six boundaries and a six in his 32-ball knock.
Kumble finished unbeaten on 110 as India were bowled out for 664 in 170 overs. The veteran hit 16 boundaries and a six in his 193-ball knock and never did look shaky.
With such a huge score under their belt, it was now clear that India were in safe territory. If not a victory, there were favourites for at least a draw, but with their bowlers in top form, one can rest assured they will try their best for a win.
Anderson finished as the most successful bowler, claiming 4 for 182 in 40 overs, but received a lot of stick. Panesar also went for plenty of runs, taking 2 for 159 in 45 overs.
(England innings)
England had to contend with eight overs before the end of play and it was clear that it was the ideal opportunity for Indian bowlers to have a real go at the hosts.
The in-form Zaheer showed why exactly he has been among the wickets as he used his field placing quite well to strike the first blow.
India struck in the fifth over of the innings when Andrew Strauss pulled Zaheer straight to Sreesanth at the fine leg boundary.
Strauss walked back disappointed after scoring six, and being subject to two days of just watching the entire Indian eleven batsmen have a feast on this batting track.
James Anderson came in as the night-watchman in a bid to play off the last few overs. He was trapped right in front of the wickets, but luckily for him, umpire Ian Howell turned blind again.
Anderson was hit right in front of the stumps before the ball went on to hit the bat and speed to the boundary, back past the bowler. There was no way the ball would have hit the bat first and it was quite obvious to the naked eye too even from a distance. But umpire Howell ruled him not out. It was the same umpire who had given Sourav Ganguly out on day one off a huge inside edge.
England managed to avoid any further casualties to end the second day on 24 for 1 after eight overs. Alastair Cook was unbeaten on 12 with two boundaries, while Anderson was not out on 8.
England have a huge task on their hand, needing to score 465 to avoid the follow-on. They will need to produce a top batting performance to do it.
India will be hoping that the pitch will turn on the third day, something Kumble will relish. Tendulkar's part time spin on this wicket, which already looks very dusty, should also come handy.
Zaheer's four overs got him a wicket for 12 runs and he will be expected to deliver the goods early on the third day with the ball still new.
Even though there are three days to go, it can be safely said that India are set for a historic series victory in England after a gap of 21 years.