Zaheer Khan bagged three wickets for 50 runs to lead India's charge on Day 1 of the second Test against England in Nottingham on Friday.
A fine performance by the Indian bowlers saw England, after being put into bat, reduced to 169 for 7 by close of play.
Zaheer took the wickets of Andrew Strauss (4), Michael Vaughan (9) and Ian Bell (31) as the Indian pacers took advantage of a first day pitch that offered them considerable assistance.
Opener Alastair Cook was England's top-scorer. He was out leg before wicket to part timer Sourav Ganguly.
Kevin Pietersen, who scored a century in the previous Test at Lord's, did not last long, he too falling leg before wicket to R P Singh for 13.
The start of play was delayed by around four hours because of a wet outfield due to overnight rain. Both India and England retained the squads that played in the drawn first Test at Lord's.
Post-lunch session: (94 runs, 3 wickets, 24 overs)
Play started at 1500 local time after a four-hour delay due to a wet and soggy outfield. It was obvious that with so much of rain over the last few days the curator had very little time to prepare the pitch, which looked quite green.
The bowlers immediately got a bit of movement, as both Zaheer Khan and S Sreesanth started the proceedings. With so much help for the bowlers, the batsmen found it rather difficult.
India struck early with the wicket of Andrew Strauss (0) in the third over. The England opener tried to lash at a wide delivery, but only managed to get the edge, which was easily pouched by Sachin Tendulkar at first slip.
Zaheer then accounted for Michael Vaughan's wicket in the ninth over of the innings. Bowling around the wicket, he forced the England captain to play at a full-pitched delivery, which left the batsman and took the edge, once again to Tendulkar.
In the 14th over of the innings, Sreesanth came back for his second spell and nearly got the big wicket of Kevin Pietersen. However, the batsman fell in the next over when R P Singh trapped him leg before wicket for 13. Once again he failed to read the swing and was struck on the back pad right in front of the stumps as England were reduced to 47 for 3.
Paul Collingwood raced to 24 from 23 deliveries, inclusive of four boundaries, two of which were lucky ones.
Alastair Cook, taking a cue from Collingwood, also gradually opened his shoulders and the runs started flowing in the latter part of the session.
Cook was unbeaten on 32, from 69 deliveries, as England reached 94 for 3 in 24 overs at the tea break.
Zaheer was easily India's best bowler in the session, claiming 2 for 40 in his nine overs. R P Singh also bowled well, taking the prized wicket of Pietersen in his spell of 1 for 32 in six overs, while Sreesanth disappointed, struggling to find the right areas.
With the pitch still offering a fair bit assistance India will be hoping to strike a few early blows after the break and make the decision to field first count.
Post-tea session: (75 runs, 4 wickets, 31 runs)
Sreesanth tasted success in his first over after the break. Collingwood played a tentative shot, inside-edging the delivery onto his stumps and was bowled for 28 from 44 deliveries.
The wicket was a shot in the arm for the bowler and he settled into a nice rhythm, going past the outside edge a number of times.
Ganguly was introduced into the attack in conditions that suit his bowling best. He just concentrated on bowling on the stumps without offering any loose deliveries and struck in his seventh over when he trapped Cook leg before wicket for 43, the second time in as many matches.
In fact, this was the third straight time in the series that the left-hander was dismissed leg before wicket, leaving Cook something to think about before coming on to bat in the next essay.
The Indian bowlers were on top having reduced England to 109 for 5, but they needed to dismiss the remaining batsmen quite cheaply since they too will not find it easy to score runs on this wicket.
Anil Kumble also got into the act soon as he struck in his third over, getting the wicket of Matt Prior for 11. The England wicketkeeper was lured into the drive by a pitched up delivery from the veteran leggie, which he could only edge to Dravid at first slip.
Zaheer came back for a new spell and immediately found the edge of Chris Tremlett's bat, but the easy offering was grassed by Tendulkar.
He, however, struck in his next over when he claimed the wicket of Ian Bell leg before wicket for 31. The right-hander was beaten by the incoming delivery from Zaheer and caught right in front of the stumps as England slipped to 157 for 7.
England avoided any further damage, ending the first day on 169 for 7 in 55 overs with Chris Tremlett unbeaten on 16, inclusive of two boundaries.
Zaheer was easily the pick of the bowlers, claiming 3 for 50 in 16 overs. Sreesanth also bowled a miserly spell, finishing the day with 1 for 16 in 12 overs.
R P Singh took the prized wicket of Pietersen, but was hit for a few runs; he gave away 56 runs in his 12 overs. Ganguly (1 for 11) and Kumble (1 for 16) were also among the wickets.
Overall, it was a fine performance by the bowlers; they made full use of the conditions and were rewarded. The important thing to note is that even the Indian batsmen will face such difficult conditions. Thus, it is vital that they claim the remaining England wickets as early as possible on Day 2.
