Though the England women survived Jhulan Goswami's five-wicket haul and avoided a follow-on, India tightened the noose around their neck, setting them a victory target of 311 in the one-off Test at the Jamia Milia ground in Delhi, on Wednesday.
After scoring 289 in the first innings, India bowled out the visitors for 154 and declared their second innings at 175 for five.
England were three for no loss at stumps, with skipper Chalotte Edwards (2) and Laura Newton (1) at the crease.
Earlier, in the morning, the visitors had the follow-on staring at them but Beth Morgan (23) and Jane Smit (21) waged a grim battle to put on a 50-run last wicket partnership before the innings collapsed at 154.
Medium pacer Jhulan had a wonderful outing, claiming five wickets, conceding just 25 runs in her 20 overs.
The hosts began their second essay on a sedate note, but after putting on 49 runs for the first wicket, opener Monica Sumra (11) offered a catch to rival captain Charlotte Edwards off her own bowling to depart. The other opener Karuna Jain (35) followed four runs later, caught behind off Laura Harper.
Captain Mithali Raj (25), all-rounder Rumeli(30), Anjum Chopra (31 not out) and Jhulan Goswami (34 not out) then scored briskly to extend the lead before the innings was declared.
The visitors were unfortunate as their strike bowler, Katherine Brunt, will miss rest of the tour after sustaining an injury.
Scorecard
India (1st innings): 289 all out
England (1st innings): (Overnight 103 for 7)
Charlotte Edwards b Goswami 12
Laura Newton b Goswami 6
Clair Taylor c Jain b Goswami 5
Jenny Gunn lbw b Rumeli Dhar 5
Arran Brindle c Jain b Goswami 37
Lydia Greenway b Rumeli Dhar 6
Laura Harper st Karuna Jain b Shravanati Naidu 10
Rosalie Birch lbw b Goswami 15
Beth Morgan c Jain b Shravanti Naidu 23
Jane Smit not out 21
Katherine Brunt absent 0.
Extras: (nb-5, b-6, lb-3) 14
Total: (For nine wickets in 97.4 overs) 154
Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-24, 3-25, 4-37, 5-49, 6-61, 7-99, 8-104, 9-154.
Bowling: Jhulan Goswami 20-10-25-5, Amita Sharma 15-5-31-0, Rumeli Dhar 11-3-25-2, Nooshin Al Khader 22-13-23-0, Neetu David 21-14-11-0, Shravanti Naidu 8.4-3-30-2.
India (2nd innings):
Karuna Jain c & b Edwards 35
Monia Sumra c Smith b Harper 11
Mithali Raj c Brindle b Birch 25
Rumeli Dhar c a Greenway b Rosalie Birch 30
Anjum Chopra not out 31
Jhulan Goswami not out 34.
Extras: (w-1, b-7, lb-1) 9
Total: (for four wickets decl. in 61 overs) 175
Fall of wickets: 1-49, 2-53, 3-104, 4-105.
Bowling: Jenny Gunn 13-1-31-0, Beth Morgan 12-1-27-0, Laura Harper 14-1-41-1, Charlotte Edwards 13-0-40-0, Rosalie Birch 6-1-14-2, Arran Brindle 3-0-14-0.
England (2nd innings):
Charlotte Edwards not out 2
Laura Newton not out 1.
Total: (For no loss in four overs) 3
Bowling: Jhulan Goswami 2-1-3-0, Amita Sharma 2-2-0-0.