India have piled on the agony on day three of the second npower Test, stacking up 481 runs in their first innings against England at Trent Bridge.

The hosts will enter the fourth day with a deficit of 240 and will be grateful that openers Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook negotiated the final 16 overs preserving their wickets, scoring 43 runs in the process.

Hopes of avoiding a 1-0 deficit in the three-match series are dependent on posting a huge score.

Sachin Tendulkar caused much of the damage for the tourists.

He was cruelly denied a 38th Test hundred by a poor umpiring decision, but became only the third cricketer to reach 11,000 Test runs with his innings of 91.

He enjoyed a strong partnership with Sourav Ganguly who was dismissed for 79.

Although Mahendra Dhoni went cheaply to Ryan Sidebottom, it proved a hard slog for England.

VVS Laxman and Anil Kumble shared a half-century stand before both were caught behind off the economical Chris Tremlett.

Left-arm spinner Monty Panesar then made it four wickets in half-a-dozen overs by claiming two leg-before decisions to finish off the tail.

But as India amassed the runs, frustration set in for England and Kevin Pietersen was involved in a flashpoint with Zaheer Khan and both umpires intervened.

India are now well placed to claim a rare test victory outside Asia and are seeking their first test series win in England for 21 years.

The first test was drawn after England were prevented from taking a 20th wicket to win by rain.