LONDON: Matt Prior's unbeaten fifty revived England's second innings after India fast bowler Ishant Sharma's inspired spell had thrown the first Test at Lord's wide open here on Sunday. England were 174 for six at tea on the fourth day, a lead of 362 runs, having collapsed to 62 for five when Prior came to the crease. But Prior was 55 not out at the interval with Stuart Broad, 36 not out, offering good support in a seventh-wicket partnership so far worth 67.India were reduced to just three frontline bowlers once again Sunday as left-arm quick Zaheer Khan remained off the field with the hamstring strain that had sidelined him for most of this match.Sharma, at tea, had taken four wickets for 41 runs in 18 overs -- but only one of those had come after lunch. No team has ever made more in the fourth innings to win a Test at Lord's than the 344 for one posted by the West Indies against England in 1984.England resumed Sunday on five without loss, a lead of 193 runs. But it was not long before the 2,000th Test of all-time was being turned on its head.Opener Alastair Cook took 27 balls for one run before he was caught behind by India captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni off Praveen Kumar, who had taken a Test-best five for 106 in England's first innings.But the real slump started when England captain Andrew Strauss, trying to break the shackles, was lbw for 32 to off-spinner Harbhajan Singh after missing a sweep. His exit left England 54 for two and that soon became 55 for four thanks to Sharma's double-wicket maiden. Kevin Pietersen had made a superb 202 not out in England's first innings 474 for eight declared. But in ideal sunny batting conditions, the advancing Pietersen was undone by a steepling delivery from fast bowler Sharma he could only nick through to Dhoni and, five balls later, Ian Bell went in similar fashion for nought.Sharma then bowling Jonathan Trott for 22 with a good length ball that clipped off stump. Eoin Morgan, five not out at lunch, became Sharma's fourth victim when, on 19, he was late on a pull and Gautam Gambhir, diving forward at mid-wicket, held a low catch.Morgan stood his ground but with replays confirming he was out, it was the end of a stand with Prior worth 45 that had taken England to 107 for six. Prior's well-timed cover-drive for four off Sharma, however, extended England's lead beyond 300 and he went on to complete a 78-ball fifty.India, who spent all of Sunday's first two sessions without star batsman Sachin Tendulkar because of a viral infection, suffered another setback when Prior's pull off Harbhajan struck Gambhir, turning his back at short leg, on the elbow and forced the opening batsman off the field.
