REUTERS - England's Paul Collingwood (back to camera) congratulates his teammate, Alastair Cook, on his century in the second innings on the fourth day of the first Test match between India and England in Nagpur yesterday. NAGPUR, India (Reuters):ENGLAND OPENING batsman Alastair Cook stroked a century on his Test debut to power his team towards possible victory over sloppy India in the first Test yesterday.
England reached 297 for three at stumps to extend their overall lead to 367 on a slow Nagpur pitch where India will have to bat most of the last day to save the match.
The 21-year-old Cook was 104 not out, displaying his class after arriving as a late call-up for injury-depleted England.
The left-handed Essex batsman, who made 60 in the first innings, was dropped on 70 and 91 as the hosts compounded their woes by grassing four chances, three of them sitters.
Cook struck 12 fours in his 343-ball knock lasting over six hours.
MAJOR PARTNERSHIPS
He shared in three major partnerships, including a racy 124-run effort for the third wicket with Kevin Pietersen, who lashed a chancy 87.
At the close, Paul Colling-wood, dropped on four, was on 36.
Resuming on 322 for nine, India added one run before seamer Matthew Hoggard trapped last man Shantakumaran Sreesanth leg before, ending India's response to the tourists 393.
The Yorkshireman returned figures of six for 57 after claiming his sixth five-wicket innings haul in Tests.
Cook once again was a picture of calm after being called up from the A tour in West Indies because of a captain Michael Vaughan's knee injury and the departure of vice captain Marcus Trescothick for personal reasons.
BRIEF FIGHTBACK
He added 95 runs for the first wicket with fellow left-hander Strauss before left-arm paceman Irfan Pathan led a brief fightback to have Strauss and Ian Bell (one) caught behind off successive deliveries to make it 97 for two.
Pietersen survived the first ball from Pathan, but India let themselves down with their shocking catching and fielding.
The batsman appeared lucky on 10 after the third umpire turned down legspinner Anil Kumble's appeal for a return catch despite slow-motion replays suggesting that the batsman had scooped the ball.
Kumble was again in anguish after Pietersen miscued to deep extra cover on 51 where Sreesanth dropped the skier.
Pietersen then cut loose against Kumble and hit him for three consecutive boundaries, including a six over midwicket until he miscued him to be caught at backward short leg.
He also struck 14 fours in his 110-ball effort.
DROPPED RETURN CATCH
Offspinner Harbhajan then dropped a simple return catch from Cook on 70 and again watched in dismay when captain Rahul Dravid put him down in the slips on 91.
Cook cut Harbhajan for four past cover to reach triple figures soon after, jumping in delight before he was embraced by Collingwood.
"It's the adrenalin that gets you through," Cook said. "It was a great feeling when that ball went through for four."
Collingwood, first innings top scorer with 134 not out, was dropped by Mohammad Kaif at midwicket off Harbhajan.
England are aiming to win a Test series in India for the first time in 21 years and play three Tests and seven one-dayers.
The second Test starts in Mohali on Thursday.
