India v England 3rd Test, Day 1: Tendulkar Hits Half-Century as Anderson Stars for Visitors

England bowled superbly to restrict India to 273/7 on the first day of the third test in Kolkata, despite half centuries from opener Gautam Gambhir and veteran Sachin Tendulkar.

The hosts won the toss and opted to bat first, on what appears to be a traditionally flat Eden Gardens track. However England fast bowler James Anderson made the best of the unhelpful conditions, picking up three wickets including Tendulkar and the ever-dangerous Virat Kohli.

India got off to a brisk start, with the centurion from the first Test, Virender Sehwag, stroking the ball around nicely. However an awful mix-up in the 11th over gave the visitors an early Christmas present.

Sehwag, who had breezed to 23, was run out by England fast bowler Steve Finn, after Gambhir refused a third run - the latest in a long line of run-outs at Eden Gardens.

England then had to dislodge Cheteshwar Pujara, the man hailed as the replacement for the iconic Rahul Dravid as India's number three. After a brilliant double century in the first Test and a century in the second, the stage was set for the young right-hander to shine again.

However, after a watchful start, disaster struck for Pujara when he failed to read Monty Panesar's arm ball and the ball snuck between bat and bad, bowling the batsman comprehensively.

Gambhir reached his second half century before falling to Panesar shortly after lunch, and when Anderson had Kohli caught at slip for just six, the hosts were rocking at 136/4.

Tendulkar and all-rounder Yuvraj Singh (32) managed to stem the tide a little, putting on 69 for the fifth wicket before Swann and his captain Alistair Cook combined to send the left-hander back to the pavilion. The partnership between Tendulkar and Singh saw the former bring up his first Test half century since Australia in January with a trademark flick down the leg side.

But there was more bad news for India before the close of play. Tendulkar (76) was looking in such fine form that his dismissal seemed unlikely - until Anderson bowled a brilliant away swinger just after the final drinks break to elicit an edge behind. Anderson then bowled Ravi Ashwin just before the close to put England firmly on top.

Play resumes on 6 December at 3.30 am GMT. For more information on where to watch the match live in the UK, click here.