James Anderson excelled with the bat through day four of the first Investec Test between England and India, his record-breaking stand with Joe Root becoming the highest for a last wicket in Test cricket.
In reply, England claimed three wickets, removing half-centurions Murali Vijay and Cheteshwar Pujara in successive deliveries.
India closed on 167-3, leading by 128 going into the final day at Trent Bridge.
On emerging from the pavilion, Root and Anderson would have eyed survival, but never the events that unfolded.
Root was an exercise in class stroke-play. He was effortless in his approach to his century, before hitting two fours through the off side to bring up the milestone with some style.
He started celebrating as soon as his shot pierced the field, and deservedly so. His was an innings which anchored what could have been a poor total under the blazing Nottinghamshire sun. Not content for Root to take all the plaudits, Anderson took four more to reach his highest Test score.
From there, the milestones kept passing. All of a sudden, their partnership was worth 100 and after being fed on a diet of short bowling for a couple of overs, Anderson came forward to slap Shami over the leg-side fielders for four, bringing up his maiden test 50 to the delight of the sold-out crowd.
Fifteen minutes later Anderson had the highest Test score ever by an English number 11 and as Root manoeuvred his way within sight of 150, they broke another record. Their partnership, on reaching 134, was the highest 11th wicket stand in England’s history, breaking a record held for 111 years.
Both batsmen tucked into Ravindra Jadeja, Joe Root helping himself to a couple of tasty reverse sweeps, before taking the lead minutes later. All of a sudden the pair had broken the record set at Trent Bridge a year earlier by Phillip Hughes and Ashton Agar – their stand was the highest in Test cricket’s history.
The pair batted out the session, and emerged with many expecting lightning to strike. It did, in the form of a luscious straight drive to take Joe Root to 150. With the next ball Ishant Sharma thought he had his man, appealing a feather to MS Dhoni which was turned down. A few words between Root and Sharma added a little spice, but ultimately came to nothing.
It was all terrific fun, cut short when Anderson slashed outside the off stump, offering a catch to Shikhar Dhawan in the slips to give Bhuvneshwar Kumar his fifth wicket. England’s number 11 left with 81 to his name, and Root unbeaten with an astonishing 154.
The evergreen Anderson then opened proceedings with the ball, enjoying a hint of movement under some fleeting cloud cover. Shikhar Dhawan quickly made his way to 25 at almost a run a ball. After being softened by Anderson, Stuart Broad and Liam Plunkett, Moeen Ali took a handy return catch in his first over to see off the opener. Looking to launch a low full toss straight, Ali sharply held the opener’s punch, sending him away for 29.
Vijay continued at his own pace, and the pair saw through to tea with a lead of 18. He was fortunate shortly after the break though, Ben Stokes finding an edge which narrowly evaded Matt Prior. Vijay went on to make 50, quickly followed by Pujara – taking two fours off Liam Plunkett with nine overs left in the day.
Ali then claimed his second victim, Vijay coming to meet the bowler only to edge to keeper Prior. He probably could have stumped him if he wanted to, such was the batsman’s advance.
With the next delivery Plunkett accounted for Pujara, the batsman slapping a ball well outside off straight to Stokes at point. He fumbled it initially, before taking it smartly at the second attempt.
Unfortunately, new batsmen Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane weren’t tempted into poor shots, the pair seeing India through to the close without incident. The visitors will go into day five leading by 128.
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Adult tickets for Sunday's play cost £20 and £8 for under 16s with discounts in place for adults (£18) and under 21s (£12) in the alcohol-free William Clarke Stand. Click here to secure your seats.